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All Posts by Jerry Hildenbrand

Best Android browser for porn [NSFW]

33 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 20 Sep 2017 8:00 pm
When privacy and malware-blocking matter more than ever. A lot of people want to use their phone to look at online porn. According to Pornhub's statistics, 72% of their total traffic (SFW Pornhub stats and press blog link) comes from mobile devices. And since Pornhub is listed as the 44th most popular site on the internet, that's a lot. We don't judge here. What we want is for you to get the...

5 reasons to switch away from T-Mobile

108 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 20 Sep 2017 10:00 am
T-Mobile doesn't work out for everyone. Having phone service that's cheap and good is important. Finding the right phone carrier is a pretty big deal. We're using our phones more than ever, and doing more with them — they're not just for making calls anymore. And sometimes, finding the right carrier doesn't happen on the first try. What's important is that you know it and are ready to move on...

How to link and unlink smart device services from the Google Home app

5 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 20 Sep 2017 8:00 am
Some things seem more complicated than they should be. The Google Home app does more than setting up the Google Home itself. You use it to set up Chromecast devices and smart "things" in your homes, like Hue lights or a Nest. Because you can use the app for so many different things, there is a good chance that eventually you'll need to unlink one of them from your Google account. At the...

10 essential Chromebook keyboard shortcuts you need to know

21 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 19 Sep 2017 10:00 am
Chromebook keyboard shortcuts
Getting to know your Chromebook's keyboard can save time and make you more productive. If you're one of those people who want to keep their hands on the keyboard when they're sitting in front of a computer — I know I am — then you need to check out the keyboard shortcuts built into your Chromebook. There are over 100 different things you can do with the keys alone. You can access menus, start...

Cheapest Phones for Seniors

Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 18 Sep 2017 11:00 am
Best overall Best for Verizon Best Battery Life Best overall Moto E4 See at Amazon The Moto E4 is a perfect size and has great, easy to use software so you can keep in touch without any of the frills, or install apps from the Google Play Store if you want a bit more. And best of all, the price is right: you can pick up the Moto E4 for about $130 unlocked and ready to use with any phone...

Five Common T-Mobile Problems and How To Fix Them

35 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 18 Sep 2017 10:00 am
Some issues are easy to fix once you know how! Our Android phones and the cellular networks they use to communicate are some pretty complicated beasts. It takes a ton of parts and millions of lines of software code to make magic happen when you tap an icon or enter a phone number to use any of the services and apps we take for granted. Kudos to the folks doing all the hard work to make that...

What's your favorite phone camera right now?

67 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 18 Sep 2017 8:00 am
The old adage of "the best camera is the one you have with you" is still true. Phone cameras come in all shapes and sizes, and everyone has a preference. Increasingly, dual cameras have spiced up the features of our favorite phones, adding telephoto, wide-angle and monochrome options for just the right moment. When it comes to the Android Central team, we all have our favorites. Here are our...

Let's talk about Blueborne, the latest Bluetooth vulnerability

46 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 16 Sep 2017 6:04 pm
Because you need to know what's up and what to do about it. We got to see something cool and terrible (yes, it's possible to be both at the same time) earlier this week when Armis Security published the details of a new Bluetooth exploit. Called "Blueborne," the exploit allows a person with the right tools and who is within Bluetooth range of your smart thing — laptop, phone, car, or anything...

How are you liking the Android Wear 2 update?

93 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 15 Sep 2017 11:00 am
Android Wear's 2.0 update brings a lot to the table, but is it a good meal? It's been about 6 months since Android Wear was updated to version 2.0. Along with the ever present promises of better battery life and performance enhancements, we got new features that included goodies like being able to install apps on the phone and use it in standalone mode with its own LTE connection. As far as...

How to manually update your Nexus or Pixel

166 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 14 Sep 2017 11:45 am
How to manually update your Nexus or Pixel
Get the latest version of Android on your phone on your own terms. Now that Android Oreo is available, Pixel and Nexus owners are clamoring to get the latest updates as soon as possible. But Google doesn't always push these over-the-air updates as soon as people would like, which is where this guide comes in. Using the tips below, you can sideload factory images or OTA updates to your Nexus or...

These Android phones support wireless charging

232 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 14 Sep 2017 10:00 am
Wireless Charging
Does your phone support wireless charging? Wireless charging has been around for a few years now, but sadly it hasn't become as widely adopted as we'd like. And while Qi and Powermat and the various companies backing them fight it out, smartphone users are left in the cold. However, many popular phones are beginning to embrace wireless charging, and if that's something you're looking for in...

Examining the differences between iPhone X Face ID and Samsung iris scanning

133 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 13 Sep 2017 10:00 am
Samsung Galaxy S8 facial recognition
Using your face as a password just got a little more exciting. At the September 2017 Apple event, the iPhone X was revealed. It seems like Apple went all out on its "Anniversary" model, and one of the new features is Face ID. Unlocking your phone with your face isn't exactly new. Android has had the feature for a while, and Samsung has used a special iris scanner since the Galaxy Note 7. But...

How to completely reset your Google login across every device

9 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 13 Sep 2017 8:00 am
How to kick everyone and everything off your Google account and force them all to log back in. It's something nobody wants to think about and hopes they never have to do, but it is important to know how to change your Google account password so that every device and service needs to log in again. This isn't just changing your password. Think of it as the next step if you think someone may...

What is wireless charging and how does it work?

37 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 12 Sep 2017 10:00 am
Qi transmitter coil
Wireless charging isn't magic, but it can be convenient. Wireless charging, such as the Qi charging tech many Android phones use, isn't new technology. My Panasonic electric razor used it many years ago, and most of us have seen toothbrushes that charge wirelessly in a cradle. And of course, we can't forget Palm and the way it brought wireless charging to the masses with the Touchstone. Now...

A phone app helped save lives during Hurricane Harvey

16 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 9 Sep 2017 6:20 pm
Read how the Zello app helped civilian first responders find and rescue people trapped in Harvey's flood waters. Your phone can seem like a lifesaver at times. But this story from the Houston Chronicle shows how a miniature computer that can install and run apps literally saved lives. You need to read Holly Hartman's story to understand how anyone with a phone app, no matter where they are,...

Get to know each other in this weekend's comments thread

42 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 9 Sep 2017 12:00 pm
The comments are open for business! Another weekend is here, and with it comes yet another hurricane determined to wreck everything in its path. We hope everyone in its path can stay safe and has a home to return to once the weather settles down. Our thoughts go out to folks affected by Harvey and Irma, and we hope everything turns out for the best. For those of us who aren't facing Mother...

Best Android Tablets of 2017

Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 9 Sep 2017 11:00 am
Best overall Best smaller tablet Best on a budget Best for enthusiasts Best overall Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 See at Best Buy The two most important things to have in a full-size Android tablet are a great screen and software that uses every inch of it. That's what makes the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 the best Android tablet. An amazing screen from Samsung is no surprise. The 9.7-inch 2048x1536...

How to manage notifications in Chrome

4 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 9 Sep 2017 8:00 am
Cut through the noise and see what's important by setting up your Chrome notifications. Chrome, whether it be on your Windows or Mac computer or your Chromebook, has desktop notifications. While it can be handy to see when your favorite website has updated something, it can also be annoying when you enabled them accidentally. On your Chromebook, notifications also come from extensions and...

The Big Four U.S. carriers are joining together to build a new mobile authentication solution

19 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 8 Sep 2017 1:50 pm
Your carrier wants to help keep your identity safer. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon have joined forces and created what they are calling the Mobile Authentication Taskforce. Because hacking, identity theft, and phishing are becoming a bigger problem, especially with mobile devices, the carriers want to create a system to make sure you are who you claim to be when using your phone for...

How to set up a VPN on Android

12 Comments
Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 8 Sep 2017 11:00 am
Setting up a VPN on your phone is easier than you think. One of the easiest ways to protect yourself and your privacy while you are using the internet is with a VPN. Filtering traffic and tunneling through an anonymous service isn't something most people can set up themselves, and there are plenty of companies out there who want to do it for you. We've looked at a few of the services and their...

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