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Help & How To

What is Project Fi, how does it work and why do I want it?

290 Comments
Posted by Andrew Martonik on 23 Jun 2017 9:00 am
Project Fi
Google's own carrier offering definitely has some appeal. If you're an Android enthusiast, you've likely already heard of Project Fi. But that doesn't mean you necessarily know everything about it, so we're here to give you the high-level look at the carrier option that comes directly from Google. Namely, just what the heck it is, how it works compared to other carriers and maybe a few...

Find My Device: The ultimate guide to finding your lost phone

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Posted by Harish Jonnalagadda on 23 Jun 2017 8:00 am
Find My Device
Find My Device lets you remotely track, lock, and erase the data on a lost or stolen phone. Android Device Manager has picked up its first major update in two years, bringing a new visual layout and a new name: Find My Device. The app's functionality isn't changing — you'll still be able to remotely track, lock, and erase the data on a lost or stolen phone — but the interface has picked up...

Beginner's guide to Plex

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Posted by Richard Devine on 22 Jun 2017 3:00 pm
Plex
Plex is an amazing tool to access your media content on all your devices. Here's a quick beginners guide to getting up and running. Plex is one of those services that has been around for some time but many of us might have passed over for some reason, be it a lack of understanding of what it actually does, thinking it couldn't possibly be useful to you, or something else entirely. The truth is...

How to track what's being said to Alexa with the history feature

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Posted by Jen Karner on 22 Jun 2017 1:00 pm
Alexa history automatically saves your conversations; here's how to review them. Alexa, the Amazon Echo's virtual assistant, learns about you as you interact with her, and part of the reason she's able to do this is that she records all of your conversations. The history is where all of these conversations are stored and where you can delete conversations you don't want Alexa to learn from. It...

Android O brings huge improvements for VR

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Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 22 Jun 2017 8:00 am
For Google Daydream, software is as important as the hardware. Mobile VR has come a long way since Google Cardboard. And it's one area where a lot of different companies have ideas for how it can get even better. We're nowhere near a "peak VR" situation and expect advances with every generation. Daydream-ready phones need to perform without overheating or killing the battery in 10 minutes...

How to set up an iCloud email account on Android

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Posted by Mike Tanasychuk on 21 Jun 2017 1:00 pm
There's no need to abandon your iCloud email address when you get a new Android device. If you're moving to an Android device from an iPhone or iPad, there's every possibility you're already set up and using an iCloud email address. Android devices require you to have a Google account (Gmail), but you might want to keep using your iCloud account for email. And that's just fine. The good news...

How to use Alexa for sports updates

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Posted by Jen Karner on 21 Jun 2017 7:00 am
Alexa can make sure you always know the score of the big games! If you're a sports fan, then it can be difficult at times to keep track of the score for all of your favorite teams. With Alexa, you can program in your favorite teams and get updates by simply asking her for sports updates. You can add multiple teams too, so you'll never miss a score again. We've got all the details here! Alexa...

How to add a user to your Alexa Household

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Posted by Jen Karner on 20 Jun 2017 3:00 pm
Share your Amazon content with your special someone with Alexa Household. Household profiles are an option that you can use on Alexa to share certain Amazon content and purchases with another user. This means that you and your sweetie can share your Audiobooks, Music, Lists within Alexa, and plenty more. We've got all the details for you here! What is an Alexa Household? By using Alexa...

OnePlus 5 vs. OnePlus 3: Should you upgrade?

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Posted by Alex Dobie on 20 Jun 2017 3:30 pm
OnePlus 5 vs OP3
If you've been holding onto a OnePlus 3 for the past year, is now the time to upgrade? After a barnstorming 2016, OnePlus is back with its most anticipated smartphone yet, the OnePlus 5. It's slimmer, with improvements to build quality and battery life, and a new dual camera system. But if you're rocking the year-old predecessor, the OnePlus 3 — or its upgraded cousin the 3T — is the new model...

OnePlus 5: Do you really need 8GB of RAM in a phone?

35 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 20 Jun 2017 2:30 pm
Nope. But it opens a lot of possibilities. You can buy a OnePlus 5 that has 8GB of RAM on board. That's 4GB more than most other high-end Android phones (and Chromebooks and cheap Windows Laptops) have and about 6GB more than the absolute bare minimum you can get away with. We'll answer the question right here in the first paragraph: No, you do not need 8GB of RAM in a phone. But it does mean...

All about Android O's Notification Channels

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Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 20 Jun 2017 9:00 am
Android 8 comes with the power to take control over your notification tray so you can sort out just what you want to see. One of the bigger changes and features coming with Android O is the new Notification Channels system. It can also be a little confusing to talk about, since it's not something we're used to seeing on our phones. But when you cut through all the fancy technical words and...

How to use Alexa for traffic updates

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Posted by Jen Karner on 20 Jun 2017 8:00 am
Nobody wants to get stuck in traffic, and Alexa can help. Traffic is the bane of existence for anyone who's ever been late to a meeting because of gridlock. While you can use your phone, the radio, or the internet to check on traffic before heading out of the house, you can also ask Alexa. She'll let you know what your commute looks like; all you need to do is let her know where you're going...

How to fix Google Pixel battery life problems

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 19 Jun 2017 7:00 am
How to fix Google Pixel battery life problems
How do I extend battery life on my Google Pixel? Google's Pixel XL offers impressive battery life for a phone of its size, but determined users can definitely drain it over the course of a hectic day. The smaller 5-inch Pixel with its 2770 mAh battery doesn't always offer the same longevity, giving you less wiggle room if you have heavier-than-usual use or forget to charge overnight. Though...

NVIDIA Shield vs. Shield Pro: Which should I buy?

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 18 Jun 2017 11:00 am
NVIDIA Shield vs Shield Pro: Which should I buy?
We know NVIDIA Shield rocks a solid Android TV experience, but the Shield Pro might just be the better buy for some. The NVIDIA Shield TV does just about everything from streaming 4K movies and TV shows to playing high-end Android games with the included Shield Controller. But when NVIDIA refreshed the line at the start of the year, it kept around the Shield "Pro" model as well — and in this...

Where to buy the HTC U11 in the U.S.

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 16 Jun 2017 9:00 am
HTC U11
HTC U11 in the U.S.: where, when and for how much. HTC's relationships with the U.S. carriers have weakened, and with the launch of its 2017 flagship the U11 it has just one carrier on board. The HTC U11 is exclusive to Sprint at launch, but has other retail partners for a proper unlocked model. The pricing from Sprint is set at $0 down and $29 per month for two years, or a total price of $696...

How to shop on Amazon with Alexa

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Posted by Richard Devine on 15 Jun 2017 9:00 am
Amazon Echo
As an Amazon product, naturally you can buy things with Alexa. Here's how. Everything Amazon ever does has some form of hook into buying things from its retail store. On its tablets, that extends to adverts on your lock screen, but on the Amazon Echo, it's pretty much the opposite. You can use it to buy things from Amazon, but only if you want to. There're no ads, no up-sell. But instead of...

What color HTC U11 should you buy: Black, blue, silver, white or red?

43 Comments
Posted by Andrew Martonik on 14 Jun 2017 11:00 am
HTC U11 colors
You want the phone ... now you just have to pick a color. The HTC U11's big design feature is its pristine curved glass back, which has a unique color infusing process to bake the colors into the glass rather than layering on top or underneath. It's a look that you can't get from any other glass-backed phone, and it means you may be taking extra care in choosing which color HTC U11 you want to...

How to keep your smartphone cool during the hot summer months

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Posted by Florence Ion on 14 Jun 2017 9:00 am
Sun's out, the smartphone's out. But don't forget that in addition to slathering on the sunscreen, you'll have to keep your phone protected, too. Summer is all about streaming the hits of year's past and shooting a bounty of selfies. But while you're out doing that, remember to keep tabs on how hot your smartphone becomes as you're having fun. The warmer weather months don't offer a friendly...

How to use a Google Play gift card

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Posted by Ara Wagoner on 13 Jun 2017 3:00 pm
Google Play is not only the largest app store in the world but also a music subscription service, a bookstore, and a video store. Google Play gift cards make an excellent gift (hence the name), but that's not the limit of their use. Since Google restricts underage user accounts from Google Wallet, Google Play gift cards might be the only way for your munchkins to purchase content. Here's where...

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