With so many features, where do you start?Image by Ryan Whitwam/IDGSamsung has packed a crazy amount of features into the Galaxy S8 and S8+. It's nowhere near the insane level of software bloat we have seen in some past Samsung devices, but there are a great many options to explore here. You could tap through menus for hour after hour, hoping to stumble upon all the cool stuff the phone can do. Or you could read this guide to learn all about the best tips and settings to make the most of your new Galaxy S8.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Sometimes innovation is best left on the drawing boardImage by Ryan WhitwamIt's hard for a phone to get noticed by consumers when it looks like all the other flat black slabs out there. That has led some OEMs to try some particularly wacky things—gimmicks to set them apart. Just because a gimmick is new doesn't mean it's good. In fact, there are a lot of gimmicks that look cool at a tradeshow, but in real life they're terrible ideas. Here are some of the worst to make it to market.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Using a VPN on Android can help you access content that’s blocked in your region and help maintain your anonymity around the web. There are plenty of apps that offer VPN services for free and as a paid service, but which of them are worth your time?I tested six of the most popular VPN all-in-one apps (with Speedtest and the speedof.me HTML5 test) on Android to see how they stack up. You can also go your own way and use Android’s built-in VPN tool. With a few tweaks, you can make it a little easier to use, too.Why use a VPN?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is basically a way to funnel all your web traffic through a remote server. This makes it look like you’re in a different location and obscures your real IP address. VPNs encrypt the traffic passing through them, making it harder for anyone else to listen in on your connection, even if you connect to an unsecured Wi-Fi network.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Using a VPN on Android can help you access content that’s blocked in your region and help maintain your anonymity around the web. There are plenty of apps that offer VPN services for free and as a paid service, but which of them are worth your time?I tested six of the most popular VPN all-in-one apps (with Speedtest and the speedof.me HTML5 test) on Android to see how they stack up. You can also go your own way and use Android’s built-in VPN tool. With a few tweaks, you can make it a little easier to use, too.Why use a VPN?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is basically a way to funnel all your web traffic through a remote server. This makes it look like you’re in a different location and obscures your real IP address. VPNs encrypt the traffic passing through them, making it harder for anyone else to listen in on your connection, even if you connect to an unsecured Wi-Fi network.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
These are the best new apps of the yearImage by Ryan WhitwamTrying to keep track of every app that comes to the Play Store would be a complete impossibility. There are so many apps being uploaded every day that it can be easy to miss the good stuff hidden by all the mediocrity. We pay close attention to the Play Store, so here's your chance to catch up on all the best apps to hit Android in 2016. Every app on this list is worth trying—they're the best of the best.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
It's got everything but the kitchen sinkImage by Ryan WhitwamThe Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is jam packed with just about every feature it's possible to fit in a smartphone, but it comes with a high price. The last thing you want to do is drop all that cash on a Note 7 and not take full advantage of all the cool stuff it can do. Here are 10 tips to get you on your way to mastering all the this phone has to offer.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Android 7.0 Nougat is beginning its slow rollout to Android devices around the world. Most phones will take time to update, but Nexus owners can already play with Google’s latest and greatest OS. Nougat brings some cool new features like split-screen multitasking, bundled notifications, and Daydream VR. Even with all the improvements, there are still some nagging deficiencies in the Android feature set. Here are the five most glaring omissions from Android 7.0.Restart option
Come on, Google. You’re just being stubborn.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The right apps make your Chromebook indespensibleImage by Ryan WhitwamEver since Google introduced Chrome OS on the CR-48 prototype laptop back in 2011, Chromebooks have relied on web apps and simple Chrome extensions to get things done. Now, Chromebooks are getting access to the Play Store with heaps of Android apps. Not all of them work well on Chromebooks, and others don't really add to the experience, but some of them can give your Chromebook a big boost. We tested dozens of popular apps on an Acer R11 to see which are which—here are the ones you should install on your Chromebook.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Make a good phone even betterImage by Ryan WhitwamHTC knew it had something to prove with the HTC 10, and it's a very good phone. It has solid performance, excellent design, and the latest Sense interface is only a mild change from stock Android. Even with all its good points, you can make your new HTC 10 even better. We've got 15 tips and tricks to make the HTC 10 the best device it can possible be.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
LG took a lot of risks with the new LG G5—it's got a metal chassis, unusual modular "friends," and no app drawer. There are some great features built in, but there are also a few shortcomings that you'll need to address in order to have the best experience possible. No phone is perfect, after all. So, we've got 15 tips and tricks to make your G5 the best phone it can be.Knock code
Use a few taps to wake and unlock your G5.
LG started offering the Knock Code security feature a few years ago, and it continues to be great on the LG G5. Knock Code lets you create a series of taps on the screen that can wake and unlock the phone in a single step. You can set up a Knock Code from the Lock screen menu under Select screen lock.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Ryan Whitwam