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All Posts by Andrew Martonik

Weekly Photo Contest: Paper

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 6 Aug 2014 5:38 pm
Weekly Photo Contest: Paper
Whether it's being used as an essential form of communication, an art medium or a something else entirely, there are countless ways that paper makes its way into our lives. This week we're looking for your best "paper" pictures, knowing well that we will likely see an incredible variety of pictures that meet the prompt. This week we're picking two entries to win, with each one taking home a...

Announcing the 'Weekly Photo Contest: Utility' winners!

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 6 Aug 2014 4:52 pm
Weekly Photo Contest: Utility
This past week we were looking for submissions of pictures that showed of "utility" of some sort, and just as we've come to expect, we received dozens of fantastic entries. Four full pages in the forums are filled with fantastic pictures, and although it's tough we were able to narrow things down to just two winners that win the contest. Read along and see this week's winners.

Google Play Music updated with new widgets, public playlists in search

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 6 Aug 2014 3:29 pm
Google Play Music widgets
Google Play Music is receiving a relatively minor version bump to v5.6.1616 (from 5.6.1609), but it packs two new widgets, public playlists in search results and better management of your downloaded music. First up are the two new widgets, the first of which is basically a complete rewrite of the old 4x1 Play Music widget. It now changes sizes from 3x1 up to 4x4 — and everything in between —...

Pick up a refurb Acer C720 Chromebook for $129 from Groupon

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 6 Aug 2014 2:17 pm
Acer C720 Chromebook
Groupon has a solid deal for an 11.6-inch Acer C720 Chromebook right now, offering up refurbished units for just $129 (with free shipping as well). That's $70 off the MSRP of $199, and an all-around great deal if you've been looking to pick up a Chromebook as a second (or third) computer. This is the model with a 1.4GHz Intel Celeron (Haswell) processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage — more...

United Airlines app lets you scan your passport for international flight check-in

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 6 Aug 2014 2:53 pm
United Airlines app
United Airlines is introducing a new "trial feature" to its app that lets international travelers scan their passports along with check-in using their phone. The app can use the scanned image of your passport to either verify previously-entered information or add it to the system, removing one step that slows down the ticketing and boarding process of international flights.

How to insert and replace the SD card on the Galaxy S5

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 5 Aug 2014 9:22 pm
Galaxy S5 with an SD card
A simple and cost-effective way to expand the storage of your GS5. One of the go-to reasons for buying a Samsung phone has been its support of using external SD card storage, and the Galaxy S5 is no exception. When you pop a fresh MicroSD card into your Galaxy S5 you can instantly expand its storage by up to 128GB, and it's an economical way to up the storage without having to pay for the...

How to: Use Gmail to send and receive email from your other accounts

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 5 Aug 2014 2:22 pm
Gmail multiple accounts
There are a few hoops to jump through, but when it's all said and done you'll able able to manage multiple email accounts in Gmail As much as we wish we could all use just a single email address for everything, it isn't always possible or advisable for one reason or another. It's not uncommon to have email addresses from Outlook, Yahoo, your ISP and others in addition to Gmail — to say nothing...

How to insert and replace the SD card on the LG G3

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 4 Aug 2014 6:04 pm
LG G3 SD card
Expand your storage by up to another 128GB in seconds by putting in an SD card In most regions the LG G3 comes with a hearty 32GB of internal storage, leaving nearly 25GB for you to use as you wish. As is often the case, one size never fits everyone — and if you need more than 32GB in your mobile device, you'll have to resort to using an external SD card to expand it. The LG G3's MicroSD card...

Hands-on with the Sprint LG G3

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 4 Aug 2014 2:57 pm
Sprint LG G3
One of the best options on any carrier comes to Sprint and continues to impress LG pretty undeniably has a hit on its hands with the G3 in a way that it never could have imagined with the G2 and original Optimus G. The LG G3 is mentioned in the same breath as the Galaxy S5, HTC One and any other phone you can think of — and thankfully, this time around the U.S. carriers haven't done a whole...

10 things to know about the NVIDIA Shield Tablet

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 3 Aug 2014 4:23 pm
NVIDIA Shield Tablet
The second member in the Android-powered Shield family is here — we break down some of the must-know info NVIDIA is taking another swing at a tablet, but this time it's taking things completely in-house and doing the hardware, software and branding itself. The result is the Shield Tablet, the second member of the gaming-focused Shield family. We've covered all of the details on this new device...

Microsoft claims Samsung isn't paying up on patent licenses for running Android

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 1 Aug 2014 6:15 pm
Microsoft logo
Microsoft has filed legal action against Samsung today in New York on the basis that Samsung has stopped paying to license intellectual property from Microsoft for its Android devices. Since 2011 Microsoft and Samsung have held a cross-licensing agreement that has shared the rights of intellectual property between the two companies, with fees associated to using that IP on Android devices. But...

How to create a voice note on the Galaxy S5

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 1 Aug 2014 12:25 pm
S Voice on the Galaxy S5
Two quick and easy ways to record what's on your mind right now Let's face it, we don't all have fantastic memories. And that's okay, because these wonderful smartphones we all have are great at remembering things for us — that is, if you know how to use them. The Galaxy S5 has a few different ways to take and record your voice and either turn it into text or store it as an audio file, letting...

Verizon's LG G Pad 8.3 gets KitKat update

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 31 Jul 2014 7:13 pm
Verizon LG G Pad 8.3
Though many may have forgotten that the device exists, Verizon has just started pushing out an Android 4.4.2 KitKat update to the LG G Pad 8.3. The update that started rolling to unlocked G Pad 8.3 customers back in April is now on the Verizon model, bumping things to KitKat, changing the visual styling of the interface (including Immersive Mode) and adding the Knock Code lockscreen option.

T-Mobile Galaxy Note 3 also receiving nondescript VoLTE-related update

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 31 Jul 2014 6:53 pm
T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3
T-Mobile's Galaxy Note 3 seems to be picking up the same update treatment as its Galaxy S5 did earlier today, with two different updates hitting devices depending on what version of software they're currently on. For those who were in a VoLTE market and received the first update to enable that service, a 25.79MB update is coming to bring you up to the most recent version, N900TUVUDNF4.

Top 8 LG G3 camera tips and tricks

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 31 Jul 2014 2:16 pm
LG G3 Camera
The G3 has a pretty great camera, but here are a few tips to make the most of it The LG G3 has received plenty of credit for its fantastic camera. From general image quality to laser focusing and UHD video, this phone can do just about anything you want it to in the imaging department. When you first launch the camera not every feature will be immediately apparent to you, though — we're here...

Verizon Galaxy S5 getting OTA with myriad of interface and app fixes

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 31 Jul 2014 2:44 pm
Verizon Galaxy S5
T-Mobile's Galaxy S5 isn't the only variant getting an update today, as GS5 owners on Verizon are getting a more sizable update with a proper changelog from the carrier. After pulling down the OTA you'll be on software version KOT49H.G900VVRU1ANE9, which updates a few of Verizon's applications and makes a whole bunch of small tweaks.

How to use Safety Assistance features on the Galaxy S5

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 31 Jul 2014 10:23 am
Safety Assistance on the Galaxy S5
Every Galaxy S5 owner should know how to use these settings The Galaxy S5 is a fantastic phone for most modern "smartphone" tasks, but it's also an incredibly powerful tool in those not-so-good times when you need it to do some specific things in an emergency. Samsung has included a set of features on the GS5 called "Safety Assistance," and this group of tools will help you out big time in...

LG G Vista now available online from Verizon at $99 on-contract

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 31 Jul 2014 1:43 am
LG G Vista
It turns out early leaks of the LG G Vista were pretty much spot-on, as the device has just shown up on Verizon's website for $99 on-contract. This cousin of the LG G3 looks very similar to that high-end device, but has a set of lower-end specs and price to appeal to a different set of buyers.

Pebble app updated with interface improvements, time zone fix

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 30 Jul 2014 10:26 pm
Pebble app and watch
The Pebble Android app is bumping up to version 2.0.16.1 tonight with several fixes and interface improvements, including changes to the interface for managing connection of your Pebble and the "My Pebble" view. This latest version tweaks a few things to make them more visually appealing, but also contains some under-the-hood changes such as correcting for time updates when a user's phone...

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