Chrome is already the most popular and powerful browser for your PC, but you may be missing out on more ways to improve your experience. Delve into Chrome’s massive extensions library or tinker with under-the-hood features, and see how you can enjoy smarter, faster browsing.Chrome has a considerable network of extensions, some of which can be found in the Chrome Web Store, while others are available from particular providers. For the most part, extensions, err, extend what your browser can do, connecting to your favorite services so you can do most of your work in Chrome and get it done faster.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Even if you haven’t walked into a pole or driven your car into a pond because you were staring at your smartphone, there’s a chance you’ve wondered if it’s time to cut back.If you enjoy Android phone as much as I do, there’s little doubt it’s your most personal device and hardly leaves your side. You’re not alone. A Pew study from 2015 pointed to how much the smartphone is central to most people’s lives in important ways, like looking up a medical condition, real estate listings, or a job search.All those messaging apps and handy tools from Google make your phone the ideal companion. And as trendy and cool as going on a “digital detox” may be, it’s just not practical. The right path is to go for the middle road. There are smart ways to curtail your use that won’t mean disconnecting from the people and events that are important in your life. Here are some tips to get you started.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
A new presidential administration usually fires up political passions from those on the winning and losing sides of the recent election.Bitter and cynical partisanship is sadly the norm, but it isn’t very constructive. Genuine civic engagement, however, can both empower you and encourage others to lobby and engage with your government about issues that matter.MORE ON NETWORK WORLD: How to use public Wi-Fi hotspots safely
The big question for anyone considering doing something as simple as contacting an elected official or lobbying for or against a bill is knowing where to start. It’s another of those questions your Android smartphone can help you answer, although you don’t want to end up on 200 mailing lists that do nothing but ask for donations.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Get your Chromebook ready for workChromebooks aren’t the anomaly in the workplace they used to be. Their easy administration, quick setup, and low learning curve have made them a successful and viable alternative to computers based on Windows or MacOS.For many, the major knock remains that Chromebooks can’t handle more sophisticated tasks given their reliance on web apps. One of Google’s solutions to this is bringing the Play Store to Chromebooks, empowering developers to package their Android apps for Chrome OS. The selection right now is pretty small, but the new Android-on-Chrome capabilities can be effective in the right spots.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Despite the tendency to feel that getting work done from your smartphone means you’re “always working,” there are still those moments when it’s liberating to be able to finish off a quick task or respond to a company message without opening your computer.I find that the real key is knowing the type of work you want to do and getting your setup right. This is especially important when you head off on a trip or you’re at a conference where you’re more likely to have access to your phone when you’re crammed in a presentation or running from one room to another.MORE: 10 mobile startups to watch
If you’re looking for a guide on what you need, or just some ideas for getting started, let us offer you a helping hand. There are plenty of good apps and services that you may not have heard of, or maybe you just need a tip about how to make them work best for you.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
It’s not an exaggeration to say that your smartphone is the most personal device you have. The fact it’s always with you, however, sure does generate a lot of information about your habits.Your location history, Google searches, web browsing habits, app usage, and even recordings of your voice talking to the Google Assistant.Yes, your phone and the Google services powering it are incredibly useful in many tangible ways. And if you use a strong password and two-factor authentication, your information is likely safer on Google’s servers than just about anywhere else.But it’s not paranoia to take stock from time to time of just how much you’re handing over to Google or if you’d rather not place all your digital privacy eggs in the same basket. Here are some simple tips about how you can stay in control of all that critical information and ensure that privacy isn’t something you have to surrender.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Give your old phone or tablet a new lease on lifeImage by Derek WalterSo, you have a new phone that doesn’t leave your side. Sure, you can get rid of the old one through a resale site or donation, but there is another option: give it a second life with a different purpose.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Make Google your home companionImage by Derek WalterGoogle Home promises to one-up the Amazon Echo through its tight integration with Google services. It's the perfect desk-side comapnion to those who live in Google's world, as some simple voice commands allow you to unlock a ton of information or get your smart devices to perform many different actions. It's the closest we'll get to using magic incantations to make objects around us obey.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
In an effort to show full contrition for the Note7 debacle, Samsung took out a full-page ad in three newspapers Tuesday to apologize.The ad appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. The letter is attributed to Gregory Lee, the president and CEO of Samsung Electronics North America. Rurik Bradbury
Samsung is really sorry that its phones are blowing up. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Android just reached a new milestone in its worldwide dominance over iOS.According to new research from Strategy Analytics, 87.5 percent of smartphones in the world are now running Android. Shipments hit a total of 328.6 million for 3rd quarter of 2016, which is up 10.3 percent up year-on-year. While Android had always been hanging around the 80 percent mark, this latest number is a new high.Comparatively, Apple shipped 45.5 million iPhones, which is down 5.2 percent from the 48 million from last year. The real drop is in "others" (like Blackberry and Windows phone). Last year, 8.2 million units of "other" smartphones were sold in the 3rd quarter. This year, the number is 1.3 million.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The ultimate Google phoneImage by Derek WalterEven if you’re a longtime devotee of Android, there’s nothing out there quite like the Pixel. It’s the most advanced and thoughtful synthesis of Android with smartphone hardware, and enhances how Google’s services can be the driving force for the way you use a smartphone.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Turn your phone into a Spooktacular Halloween companionImage by Derek WalterYou’ve probably decorated your house with cobwebs, spiders, skeletons, and carved some pumpkins.But what about your phone? Yes, that ever-present companion of yours needs some attention as well when it comes to getting ready for All Hallow’s Eve. Your smartphone can keep track of where the kids are, zombify yourself, and keep the party going with some dark and delightful tunes.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Pixel PerfectImage by Derek WalterIt’s finally here.The new Google Pixel is in your hands and ready to deliver on the promise of Google-designed smartphone bliss. There’s a lot to unpack, even if you’ve already been down the Nexus road before. Google has taken the integration of Android and hardware to a new level, and there are a lot of little features hiding just underneath the surfaceTo read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Call it the “Un-fine.” Perhaps that’s how T-Mobile, the self-described uncarrier, will spin Wednesday’s settlement with the FCC. The nation’s third-largest wireless network will pay $48 million total including customer benefits, education donations, and a fine as part of an agreement reached with the FCC.
Good settlement with FCC today. @TMobile believes more info is best for customers. #themoreyouknow https://t.co/XFY6dHPfN6To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Call it the “Un-fine.” Perhaps that’s how T-Mobile, the self-described uncarrier, will spin Wednesday’s settlement with the FCC. The nation’s third-largest wireless network will pay $48 million total including customer benefits, education donations, and a fine as part of an agreement reached with the FCC.
Good settlement with FCC today. @TMobile believes more info is best for customers. #themoreyouknow https://t.co/XFY6dHPfN6To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
From time to time you’ll hear about yet another effort to bring Android to the desktop. Yes, there’s an official effort to do this straight from Google by bringing the Play Store to a select number of Chromebooks.But what if you want this now, or don’t want to buy a new computer to experience what it’d be like to use Android apps on your PC? With a little bit of digital elbow grease, it’s possible. You can run some of your favorite apps and engage in Android gaming by trying out one of the many third-party solutions. I looked at several software choices that offer this, and came away with four solid options that will have you up and running with Android on your Windows PC rather painlessly.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Cease FireImage by REUTERS/Edgar SuIt’s official: the Galaxy Note7 is no more. The company already pulled out a miracle with its unprecedented recall to address the phone’s defective battery, only to be scorched again when more units started igniting. Samsung has now stopped production and wants you to (again) power off your device for good.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Samsung has announced it has just finished a shipment of 500,000 units of the Galaxy Note7 to carrier and retail outlets.The devices are to be available on Wednesday, September 21, meaning you can finally get a non-exploding model in exchange for the one you own. Those who were issued a temporary device by their carrier should also be eligible to swap it for a Note7.Those who have been forced to wait to buy a new Note7 also may be in luck. The Note7 is available on the online store for Verizon and Sprint right now. Other carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T still redirecting Note7 information on their site to a dedicated page with recall details, but they may very well resume sales soon. If you were thinking of buying a Note7 but got stuck waiting because of the battery fiasco, your best bet is to contact your carrier.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Get ready for a Google hardware-palooza.The company is set to not only unveil a pair of smartphones during its just-announced Oct. 4 event in San Francisco, but we also may also see some other gear that will surely make it onto the holiday wish list of anyone that’s a fan of Google services.The story behind the story: Late Monday, the company sent out a press invite and a playful tweet that takes you to a not-so-subtle teaser site. It’s clearly a phone and the URL of madeby.google.com tells us that instead of this being just another Nexus partnership, Google is more fully in control of its latest smartphones. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
There is a growing consciousness about the desire to keep one’s messages private. Some are concerned about hackers, or worry about the government spying on them, but most people just agree with the general principle that what you say in your chat conversations ought to stay between you and the people you chat with.It’s not a pleasant idea to think that your messages could be archived for perpetuity on a large company’s server or analyzed by some algorithm. The quest for privacy has birthed a whole generation of apps that promise to give you exactly that. Services like Telegram and Signal have turned the phrase “end-to-end encryption” into a popular discussion. We're here to help you figure out what this is all about and which apps to try.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Derek Walter