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  • Sell your old cellphone for big bucks

    This may not be the case now, as the cost of cellphones has gone up, but for a while it was fairly settled that every couple of years we would get a new one. A bigger screen, faster processor, better camera or whatever, it was the thing we were excited to upgrade to.

    While learning about and playing with your new phone, have you ever stopped to think about what to do with your old phone? throw it out? keep it away? You weren’t planning on using it again, after all, and it was just going to be a high-tech paperweight.

    Although it may be too late for the phone you replaced years ago, it’s a good thing to know that you can actually sell your old phone. And not even for the money. But for real money.

    there are a handful of options
    Off the top of your head you might be thinking of something like eBay or Craigslist, and it’s true that you can go to any number of sites and potentially find buyers for your old device. But those sites, while useful, are used for more than just phones, which means you probably won’t have the most target audience.

    But assuming you actually own your phone — as in, it’s paid for in full — there are even better avenues to go down to maximize the selling value of a phone you no longer need. Has no use.

    Almost every site will ask you to answer a few questions about your phone, with them trying to figure out what kind of condition it is before they can give you a quote. Assuming you’re good with the offer, you’ll typically be sent a pre-paid shipping label and then receive the phone at the site you choose in a pre-determined amount of time.

    Once it arrives, they will evaluate your phone in person and send your payment. At that point, you’re done.

    There are many sites and ways you can sell your phone, although all are slightly different. Not only how do they go about selling it, but also how their sites work and how much they can offer for your device.

    let’s break them down

    Glyde will allow your phone to be auctioned off online, the site will help you set a fair price making sure it doesn’t take long to sell. After you do this, the site will send you a shipping kit.

    Because of that, the time it takes you to receive your money will be directly related to how long it takes for the phone to be sold.

    NextWorth is good as long as it will actually fit your device. You’ll receive a free quote for your phone and, if you approve, print out a free shipping label, which you’ll use to drop it off at a UPS store. They’ll then take a picture of your phone and inspect it and, assuming it’s passed, send your payment via PayPal or check.

    NextWorth won’t accept all smartphones or tablets, however, which means depending on your device you may be out of luck.

    For example, Decluttr will provide an offer for your phone and, if you accept within 28 days, will send you money via check, PayPal or direct deposit before proceeding and then selling it.

    UseCell takes on a lot more than just the phone, which makes it a great option if you have a few things you want to unload. You’ll get an instant offer and, if you accept, send your device to them for free before receiving payment. Offer is guaranteed for 30 days.

    Gazelle isn’t necessarily known for offering the most money, but they’ll make you pay for your phone—even if it’s damaged. Perhaps best of all, if they get your phone and determine it’s in even better condition than you anticipated, they’ll increase their original offer. If they decide to reduce the offer, the phone can be returned to you at no risk.

    eBay is known for being an auction site that you can definitely use to earn some money for your phone. But if you don’t want to deal with that process, there is a “quick sale” option that lets you list the status of your phone and send it to eBay. They’ll sell it for you, and while it’ll probably be less than what you’d get from a regular auction, the process will be far less hectic.

    As for Amazon, they’ll accept whatever they sell as a trade-in, but instead of money they’ll pay you in an Amazon gift card. The prices they quote you are only good for seven days, which means you’ll need them to get the item on time.

    So who will pay the biggest money?
    There are a lot of variables, but we took a look at each site to get an idea of ​​what they would offer for a phone. In this case, on September 4th, we picked up a 256GB iPhone 8 and what we found is pretty cool.

  • 3 awesome apps that block unwanted robocalls

    Unwanted robocalls have recently become an epidemic. A recent study shows that the number of spam calls is increasing at an extremely fast pace across the country. US On average, people in the U.S. receive only 19 spam calls every month. Oh!

    Whether it’s just an annoying telemarketer calling, or a scammer trying to rip you off, these calls are spiraling out of control. This is why the government has come up with a new tool to try to stop them, click here to know about it.

    Another way to try and stop these intrusive calls is with robocall blocking apps. Let’s look at the three best options available.

    Truecaller
    Seeing an unknown number pop up on Caller ID may be enough to stop you from answering. But what if you are waiting for an important call and the number is not on your contact list?

    Answering these calls can be like playing Russian roulette. The caller could be the person you’ve been waiting for, or it could be a dangerous scammer. You need a way to know before you answer.

    That’s where the Truecaller app can help.

    It’s free and lets you find out who’s behind that unknown number. Simply copy and paste the number into the search bar embedded in the app.

    After this Truecaller will search the unknown number and find out who it is. With a community-based spam list of over 250 million users, this is a great resource for avoiding answering unwanted robocalls.

    Another great feature of Truecaller is its ability to block spam calls. When a strange telemarketer calls, there will be a big warning in red, letting you know it’s a spam call. When this happens just swipe up to automatically block that caller and add them to the spam list.

    The Truecaller app is available for free on both Android and Apple devices. Click here to download the app for iOS. Click here to download the app for Android.

    Hiya – Caller ID & Block

    Hiya – Caller ID & Block App is perfect for identifying the calls you want to accept and block the calls and texts you want to avoid. The app is free, with no ads, and extremely easy to use.

    It allows you to block calls, blacklist unwanted phone numbers and text messages, reverse phone search information on incoming calls, and receive spam alerts. The app is powered by a database of millions of phone numbers that have been confirmed to be spam by other users.

    The app detects and blocks fraudulent calls such as robocalls, telemarketers and IRS scams. It can also identify unknown spam callers in real time so you always know who is calling.

    The Hiya app is available for free on both Apple and Android gadgets. Click here to download the app for iOS. Click here to download for Android.

    Call Control – Call Blocker
    Call Control – Call Blocker app automatically blocks spam calls and calls from other numbers you don’t want to hear. You can also block entire area codes like 888 if you are not getting a lot of calls from a particular location.

    Worried about missing important calls? Call Control gives you your personal whitelist and contact protection to make sure you only contact people you know.

    Users of the app actively report their spammers, so its catalog is always up to date. That means it gives you the best protection from these fake callers. It even works for spam text!

    Call Control will automatically block active spammers, and Reverse Lookup allows you to track them down to their source. You can also add numbers to the community blacklist and choose to block specific numbers that won’t leave you alone.

    Call Control app is free and available for both Apple and Android gadgets. Click here to download for iOS. Click here to download for Android.

  • How to pick the best streaming service

    Still, we’re hearing that cord cutting is on the rise. Consumers everywhere are opting for streaming services over traditional pay TVs. While that’s clearly bad news for big pay TV companies like Comcast and DirecTV, consumers now have a flood of different streaming options, each with its own unique advantage.

    The sheer amount of streaming services available now makes it possible to completely replace traditional pay TV plans with device-free and contract-free streaming. But which streaming service is the best? It all depends on your preferences and your budget.

    With many pay TV providers partnering with streaming services in an effort to keep up with the trend, it’s clear that streaming is quickly becoming the norm. If you’re ready to make the switch, there are a few important factors to consider before compromising on your new TV viewing experience.

    What matters the most to you?
    Each of the major streaming services has its advantages and disadvantages, and what may be a pro for you may be a hoax for a neighbor with different tastes. If you are looking for the latest episodes of your favorite TV shows that just aired last week, then Hulu is the best bet for you. On the other hand, if you want to watch a football game live, Sling TV is a popular choice. HBO Now is a great source of top-tier movies, but Amazon Prime Video is included for all existing Amazon Prime members.

    Of course, Netflix is ​​generally found to be at the top of everyone’s list with a massive selection, reasonable prices, and the ability to watch downloaded episodes and movies offline.

    One of the most attractive features of streaming services is affordability. If you already use Amazon Prime then you already have access to Amazon Prime Video at no extra charge. Few other options offer different tiers of pricing to exclude ads or use multiple devices at the same time. Be sure to consider how you will use your service(s) and what pricing option works best for your home.

    Two heads are better than one
    While you may be looking to cut the cord in the interest of saving money, chances are you’ll still be saving a bundle if you skip your traditional pay TV provider and sign up for two or three streaming services. . Don’t feel pressured to find the perfect perfect solution. That’s what got most of us into the “bundle” pay TV contract price in the first place.

    Keep in mind that, in addition to saving money on the service, you won’t be paying any of the normal fees that come with Pay TV. There is no monthly payment required to rent your cable box or one-time installation fee. In fact, depending on which service(s) you choose and what type of TV you own, you may already have several apps on hand, eliminating the need for an external device to make streaming possible. may be embedded.

    try before you buy
    If you’re still on the fence about cutting the cord, or already are, but can’t decide on one or more streaming services, give them a try! Most of the services out there offer free trials. Try all the top contenders and see what you think.

    Explore the shows you currently watch on different services to determine which one has the most of what you want. If your favorite show isn’t available on one of the services you’re considering, it can be a deal breaker. As you go through the process of narrowing things down, keep in mind the price, ads, and selection.

    Thanks to the ability to try before you buy, the best solution should become clear to you by the time of your trial.

  • 3 essential apps for Back to School

    Summer is fast coming to an end. You know what that means. Yes, school time is back for kids.

    Students these days have access to more learning tools than ever before. With so much advancement in technology, he has a whole world of knowledge in the palm of his hand. There are apps available that can help children of all ages reach their highest educational potential.

    Going back to school also affects parents, mainly in their pocketbooks. Don’t worry, there are apps that can help with this too.

    Let’s take a look at three essential apps for getting back to school.

    myHomework Student Planner

    Keeping track of each assignment and when they are due can be a struggle for students. Back in the day, we needed a spare notebook to hand write down everything we needed to do. And you know how easy it is to lose paperwork.

    With the MyHomework app, students can stay on top of homework with the help of their gadgets. It is the perfect replacement for that paper student planner, school diary or academic agenda.

    The app’s simple interface makes it great for all levels of education, from middle school, high school, and even college. It has features that make it easy to use for high school students with block class schedules. Keeping track of assignments has never been this easy.

    With the free version of the MyHomework app, students and parents can track classes, homework, tests and assignments. There’s also a beautiful calendar display and it supports time, block, and duration-based schedules. It works on smartphones and tablets.

    You can download this app for free for both iOS and Android devices. The free version comes with ads; However, there is a premium ad-free version for only $4.99 per year.

    Click here to download the myHomework app for iOS. Click here to download the app for Android.

    Khan Academy

    The academic world is super competitive. If your child intends to attend an elite university, he or she needs to start preparing years in advance.

    Discipline and great grades are just a few of the requirements to be accepted. It is a good idea for children to get as much information as possible on as many subjects as possible.

    That’s where the Khan Academy app can help. You can learn a wide range of topics for free!

    Its mission is to provide free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. There are no ads or subscriptions that you need to pay for.

    You’ll find practice exercises, instructional videos and a personalized learning dashboard that enables learners to study at their own pace, in and out of the classroom.

    Khan Academy’s Mathematics goal is to guide students from kindergarten to calculus using state-of-the-art, adaptive technology that identifies strengths and learning gaps. Millions of students from around the world learn at their own pace every day.

    The site has partnered with a number of institutions, such as NASA, The Museum of Modern Art, and MIT, to offer exclusive content.

    There are also free tools available for parents and teachers to help them understand what their children or students are going through and how to help them.

    Click here to download the free Khan Academy app for iOS. Click here to download the free app for Android.

    Going back to school is about much more than academics. It is also where children and young adults learn to socialize with people outside their families.

    That means kids want to look their best when they show up on the first day of class. As you know, buying clothes for the school year can be expensive. And clothes are just the tip of the iceberg. You’ll also need to buy school supplies and maybe some new electronics.

    The Ebates app can help you save serious money on many of these purchases. Shop and save money with cash back rewards, coupons, online discounts, offers and sale deals. You can shop at over 2,000 retail and wholesale stores like Groupon, eBay, Kohl’s, Target and Walmart.

    Sign up for a free account and you can start earning up to 40 percent cash back today! Plus, you’ll receive a $10 bonus when you make your first purchase through the Ebates app.

  • Wi-Fi vs. Bluetooth vs. USB tethering Which is best for you

    Your laptop is open and ready as you need to answer some emails or complete a work assignment, but there’s no Wi-Fi. A frustrating situation can finally be resolved with a simple solution to get you back online.

    All you need is a device, either Apple or Android, with a cellular connection. Connections vary slightly depending on the device you are using.

    First you need to set up your Personal Hotspot. Apple and Android mobile devices can share their data connections in the same way as Wi-Fi hotspots. This means you can get your laptop online and enjoy working with a full keyboard instead of tapping with your thumb. Your Personal Hotspot feature can also come in handy when you don’t want to use your computer on an unknown or unsecured Wi-Fi network.

    on apple:

    You can connect your computer to your Internet connection in three different ways, a process known as “tethering.” Let’s take a look at all three possibilities: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB, and how to choose which method to use.

    Wifi
    For most people, Wi-Fi tethering is the easiest way. It is simple and provides a fast connection.

    While Wi-Fi tethering works very well and should be your first choice, if you’re concerned about battery drain you may want to consider Bluetooth instead. The trade-off is that you may experience a slow connection, so reserve this option for times when your battery is running low and there’s no outlet available.

    Personal Hotspot supports Bluetooth connection with Mac, PC, and other third-party devices. To connect another iOS device, use Wi-Fi.

    While just hooking up a cable can be convenient, there can be a speed trade-off with using USB tethering. You may prefer to stick with the Wi-Fi connection unless you have a technical issue that prevents you from using Wi-Fi.

    Some carriers will throttle mobile hotspot data after a certain amount of usage. If you’re not sure what your plan allows, check your contract or talk to your carrier. With occasional light use, you probably won’t have to worry, but if you’re using it to stream a lot of high-quality video, or for other data-intensive purposes, you’re likely to have problems. May be.

    Think of tethering as your Internet pinch hitter. It’s there when you need to make a call on it, but it doesn’t make sense as a daily way to get your computer online.

  • 10 great tips for a Windows 10 tablet

    Windows 10 was highly anticipated for a long time and with good reason; It’s a great operating system that’s incredibly intuitive for basic tasks, and has some great updates on older Windows systems. It’s a system that’s translated well to tablets, and there are tons of features you can enjoy when you own one.

    In fact, there are so many great features that it can be hard to know about them all without a little guidance. Luckily for you, we’ve done the research, and got some features for you to test on your Windows tablet. Check out 10 of these tips and tricks below!

    1. Voice Activated Search
    For those times when you need to check a recipe quickly but your hands are messy, or when you’re stocking up on groceries but need to settle a song lyrics debate, Windows 10 voice- Active can do web searches, and even check the weather for you, or show you the news. Simply activate Cortana, Microsoft’s computer assistant, in the Settings screen, and say “Hey, Cortana” to activate it.

    In addition to searches, Cortana can set reminders, and let you know when they’ll arrive, so enjoy your computerized secretary completely hands free!

    2. Viewing and Using the App Side-by-Side
    Want to consult your calendar on your tablet while browsing the web? This might be fine on a desktop, where you can control the size of the window, or even have multiple monitors. But on a tablet, you typically only have one app open that fits the entire window. Not so with tablets with Windows 10.

    Tap and hold on the top of the first app, and drag it to the right or left of the screen. Then, open or switch to the other app you want to view, and tap and hold it, placing it on the other side of the screen. Tap the divider between apps to change how big they are, and otherwise, enjoy having Netflix and Microsoft Word open at the same time on one device.

    3. Write Instead of Type
    Many tablets do not come with an external keyboard, including Windows 10 tablets, and they instead work with a touch keyboard that is part of the tablet screen. For these tablets that come with a stylus, there are more options for writing than just the internal keyboard which lets the stylus be more than a throwback to the days of the Palm Pilot.

    In Windows 10, if you bring up your touch keyboard and tap the keyboard icon in the lower left corner, you can actually type on your screen, and predictive text will type what you’re scribbling. To activate this function simply tap the Blank keyboard with pen picture option. Then, with your stylus, or even your finger, you can compose notes if you can’t reach another keyboard, or if you prefer handwritten notes that are easily shared.

    4. Share Files Easily
    Speaking of sharing files easily, Windows 10 tablets have enhanced the ability to quickly and easily share files and URLs with other, nearby devices. Open the Share interface in your file or webpage with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi active, and you’ll find PCs and other tablets that have Nearby Sharing enabled. Just tap the one you want, and that device will get a notification that they’ve received something from you, which will download quickly.

    This sharing functionality also works for phones, and may be the best option for getting photos on your tablet, as tablets and phones can’t use flashdrives. Usually this sharing is fastest over Wi-Fi, but Bluetooth works, and don’t worry; Most of the time, your device knows which one is fastest at the moment, and will use that, so you can easily pass things between devices.

    5. Control Your Notifications
    If you need a period to get some work done, a Windows 10 tablet is already your friend. Built-in tablet mode lets you ignore other apps (unless you split the screen, as in the first tip), and on top of that, there’s an easy way to disable app notifications.

    Hold (or right-click) the Action Center icon, tap “Hide Notifications For” and choose a time of 1, 3, or 8 hours. With your timer set, enjoy a temporary respite from notifications, and take some work seriously. Plus, all your notification settings are in one convenient place. Head under Settings >> System to disable some notifications, or all of them, depending on your preferences. Again, think about how you want to use your device, and make it work for you!

    6. Stream to other compatible devices

    Your Windows 10 tablet can stream video on its own, but if you want to use a bigger screen, all you need is a compatible device, like a Roku, or Xbox One S. Type “media streaming” in the Windows 10 taskbar, then select the media streaming option and follow the instructions. It can help you stream videos you put on your tablet, such as self-made videos, or stream games or other applications that support compatible devices.

  • How to use free Wi-Fi for banking, shopping and safe browsing

    It’s very convenient to bank, shop and post photos and status updates online. This means you don’t have to physically bank, store, or travel long distances to catch up with family and friends spread across the country.

    The drawback to doing these and other things online is that your information is traveling through the Internet. This is not a direct shot between you and the site you are using. Data can bounce around the country or through servers around the world.

    This gives hackers many opportunities to steal your information. If they can catch it in transit, they can learn your passwords, details about you they shouldn’t know, or even pretend to be you to trick your bank or other secure sites can do.

    This is especially true if you are using public Wi-Fi. Hackers on the same network have tons of tools to spy on what you’re doing.

    In addition to hackers, the government and your Internet service provider can also monitor your connection to see where you go, and if they want to, what you do. If you’re not a fan of this, and some people are, there’s a way you can keep these parties off your business.

    internet security status
    Before we talk about it, let’s take a quick review of the already existing safe solution. Any finance, medical or shopping site that is even the slightest security conscious will provide you with an encrypted connection.

    Encryption spoofs your traffic so that hackers cannot obtain your passwords or other information. When the web address in your browser begins with “https://”, you can tell that a site is undergoing encryption.

    In addition to the sites we have already mentioned, Facebook, Google and other major sites have also adopted Always On Encryption. However, not every site you encounter will be and some only offer partial encryption.

    This means they can’t encrypt the connection until you log in, which gives a potential opening for hackers to steal your password. Or they just encrypt your login information and leave things like email messages exposed to traffic espionage.

    Fortunately, more sites are moving to full-time encryption. Most of the major news sites do this, and you probably didn’t even notice.

    Of course, you don’t need to wait for others to provide you with that level of security. You can completely encrypt your connection today.

    VPN Basics
    To encrypt your connection, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). In the business world, VPNs let employees working remotely create an encrypted connection with the company network so they can work securely, as shown in this handy diagram:

    Both Windows and Mac have VPN features built in for just this purpose. However, for the average home user or traveler, these aren’t very helpful because you need something to connect to. That’s where a third-party VPN service comes in handy.

    A VPN service lets you create an encrypted connection with one of its servers and you use that server to browse the Internet. The connection through the server is encrypted, so the VPN can’t even see your traffic. OK, it’s a little more complicated than it is behind the scenes, but this is the result.

    To get started, you’ll need to choose a program or service to use. There are dozens that offer a mix of security features, privacy options, server locations, and other considerations.

    For the average user, it’s important to make sure they have US-based servers, know how much bandwidth you can use, and that they don’t keep logs of your activity. Payment services will naturally require some personal information and payment information, but you can find one that is at least essential to know.

    Some services will accept prepaid cards and alternative payments that are more difficult for you to locate. However, even if you give your information to the Service, as long as it does not keep a log of what you do with the Service, it may not matter so much.

    using a vpn
    Once you have installed the VPN of your choice, fire it up and let it establish a connection. You can then browse the Internet as usual. Traffic will flow through the VPN’s servers and encrypted connection on your computer, tablet or smartphone.

    This means that any unencrypted sites you visit will be protected from prying eyes and encrypted sites will basically have double encryption. As an added bonus, your Internet service provider will no longer be able to see which sites you are visiting. It will only look at the connection to your VPN.

    Note: If you are searching for VPN, you will see VPN services and “Proxy” services. A proxy service can hide the identity of your computer, but it does not encrypt your connection.

  • Safeguard your music collection in the Cloud

    How big is your digital music collection? If you’re like any average person, your computer’s music library most likely contains folders of songs and folders of album files.

    Similar to photos and videos, special songs and albums evoke specific feelings and memories – our very own personal life soundtrack, if you like. For most of us, protecting our music collection is as important as securing our personal files.

    Look, with all the music streaming services available right now, there’s nothing quite like owning a copy of a song or album that helped shape who you are right now. Offline or online, it’s comforting to know that you can listen to your favorite iconic rock song whenever your heart desires.

    But what if a dreaded computer disaster strikes? It could be anything – a nasty virus or malware, a hard drive crash, a natural disaster. The thing is, your computer and its hardware won’t last forever.

    Are you sure you’re taking the right precautions to protect your data, including your music collection that took you years to build?

    Back up them all in the cloud!
    Let’s say you’re the careful type and like any prudent computer owner, you already have a copy of your entire music collection saved to an external hard drive. That’s great! However, external drives eventually fail as well. Even worse, if you keep the drive connected to your computer, that offers no protection against malware or natural disasters.

    For more secure backup solutions, tech-savvy people are increasingly relying on cloud backup services to protect their priceless files from unexpected digital disasters.

    However, with changes to some major music storage services, for example, Amazon Music’s retirement of storage subscription plans this year, many backup services are moving away from personal accounts.

    So who has your back when it comes to securing your music library? Well, our sponsor IDrive, of course.

    Run it again, IDrive
    Why is IDrive such a great backup solution for your huge music library?

    Well, if you have hundreds of gigabytes of music files, imagine how long it would take to upload them all to the cloud! It can take days, even months, to cover them all.

    Luckily, IDrive has a service called IDrive Express. Other backup services clog your bandwidth when you upload your files, IDrive Express Jump starts your initial backup, using a shipped USB physical drive method!

    This means you can save all your important files, including your entire music collection, locally to an IDrive Express drive, then just back them up! File upload weeks have been reduced to just hours. Now, this is really convenient!

    IDrive will, by default, pre-select your computer’s default Music folder as well as your Documents and Videos folders for automatic backup. And, of course, you can select any folder or file location you want to include in your backup.

    And here’s the best part about backing up your music files with IDrive. You can play your songs directly in IDrive’s iOS, Android, and desktop apps without downloading them. Yes, you can play your music directly from the cloud. It’s like your own personal music streaming service!

    And in case you didn’t know, unlike other backup services that charge per device, IDrive lets you backup data on every internet enabled gadget in one account.

    This means you only need one account to back up your family computers, laptops, tablets and phones. And you can even share your entire music library with them!

  • 5 tips to boost your Android experience

    Android is everywhere. Apple’s major rival to iOS is a popular choice across a variety of smartphones and tablets. Like any operating system, there is a learning curve. Even if you’re already well-versed with Android, it’s easy to overlook some of the tips and tricks that can improve your experience.

    Just remember that there can be quite a bit of variation between different versions of Android, so you may have to do a little hunting to find the right settings, and some features may not work with older operating systems.

    Some of these tips are deceptively simple, but they’ll make your Android experience easier and more enjoyable. So go ahead and put them to work and take your Android skills to the next level.

    1. Add something smart to your lock screen
    You are good about keeping your Android phone off. You have a password, a PIN, a pattern or a fingerprint that is required to access your phone. It’s a smart security move, but sometimes you want convenience. This is where the Android Smart Lock feature comes in. This lets you keep your phone or tablet unlocked in certain situations, such as when you are near your home.

    Go to your Settings and look for the Security menu. Select Smart Lock and open it. It gives you a suite of options ranging from on-body detection to voice match, allowing you to unlock the device with your voice.

    If you’re new to this, you might want to start with the “Trusted Places” setting and set your home as the place to keep your phone unlocked. You can also set more locations, like your workspace, but keep in mind that your phone will remain unlocked in those places if you leave it sitting.

    2. Get Your Quick Settings Even Faster
    You probably swipe down from the top of your phone when you want to access your Wi-Fi, battery, Do Not Disturb, Bluetooth, and other basic settings. It shows icons of some of your settings as well as any active notifications you have. You’ll have to swipe down again to open the full tray of settings.

    But there’s an even faster way to go to your quick settings. Swiped down with two fingers from the top and like magic, your quick settings are all set up, ready to do what you need.

    3. Swipe Your Way Through Your Chrome Tabs
    Most of us open multiple tabs in Chrome browser whenever we are searching the internet. On a desktop or laptop, clicking between tabs is easy. On Android, though, you probably tap on the square at the top that shows the number of tabs you have open, and then sort through the stack of tabs until you find the one you want to switch to. .

    There’s another way to move between your tabs in the Chrome app and it’s more fun. Simply swipe left or right in the address bar to zip between your open tabs.

    4. Use Split Screen
    Starting with Android 7.0, users are able to use a split-screen feature that lets two apps share the real estate on your screen simultaneously. Tap the square icon at the bottom of your screen to view your running apps. You should see a message at the top that says “Touch and hold the window, then drag to use split screen.”

    For example, you can touch and hold the Gmail window and wait a few moments for it to pop out a bit. Drag it upwards and it will take up half the space. Then, click on any other running app like Chrome to fill in the bottom and now you can use both. Press and hold the square icon (which should now resemble two vertical rectangles) to return to the normal screen.

    Keep in mind that not all apps support split-screen, so you may run into some apps that won’t work with this feature. If you find that split screen is too tight for you, read on for a separate tip that will help you when using two apps at the same time.

    5. Double tap on the square
    Here’s a clever Android feature that is often overlooked. You are already very familiar with the three icons that are usually found at the bottom of your screen: triangle, circle and square. Touching the square shows all your open apps stacked on top of each other. That’s great for choosing an app from across the entire line-up, but there’s another handy function of the class. Double-tap it to automatically switch between apps. This is especially good if you keep a few apps open and need to bounce back and forth between them.

  • 11 amazing perks you get from your local library you never knew before now

    “I’ve always imagined that heaven would be a library of sorts.” So said famous novelist Jorge Luis Borges, and if you love study carols and those storied old buildings full of wisdom, you probably share his heavenly spirit.

    Tap or click here for 4 apps to help you organize your books, music and movies.

    Today the library is as essential as ever. I mean physical libraries, the same brick-and-mortar buildings that have been lending books since the dawn of America. However, how does a space full of hardbacks and CDs keep pace with the digital universe? By adapting to your logic and evolving over time.

    Tap or click here for a great resource for free e-books.

    With a simple library card, you can put your tax money to good use and support one of the best institutions out there – all the time for literature, magazines, music, movies and even more. That while enjoying an unlimited supply of free office space. Here are some of the facilities provided by your local library.

    1. Ebooks and Audiobooks

    When you think “library,” you think of books. But books come in many varieties, including picture books for kids, paperbacks for the beach, and large-print books for those with visual challenges.

    The explosion of media has also given rise to many new formats: Libraries today still boast an impressive number of e-books and audiobooks, all for free with a library card. All you need is your e-reader (like the super-cheap Kindle) and/or an audiobook app that supports your library’s file types (like Overdrive), and you can binge TV shows along the way. Can binge on books.

    Just keep in mind that eBooks and audiobooks from the library come with due dates, just like print books do – you’ll usually be able to keep your copy for about two weeks, then you’ll need to renew your reading material. , or it will be available again to other library cardholders.

    Specific titles, especially beloved bestsellers, may not always be available. However, you can place a hold request, just like in print books, and get a link to download it as soon as your copy is available.

    2. DVD and CD
    Long before streaming, libraries tried to compete with video and music stores with one major exception – tapes, DVDs and CDs would be free to check out with a library card.

    Of course, the selection can be a bit more limited, and new releases won’t be found as quickly, and sometimes DVDs or CDs get scratched and difficult to play. The movies will be free, and are still free at your local library.

    The best way to approach a library’s selection is to treat it like a thrift store: You never know what’s donated over the years, so you can browse the eclectic collection for old favorites or old blockbusters that suit you. never met

    3. Wi-Fi and Workspace
    A “virtual office” usually means one of two things: your home, or a cafe. Coffee drinks add up, and sometimes leaving the house is a boon to productivity. Solution: An open table or padded chair, courtesy of your local book-lender. Every major library has free Wi-Fi, outlets, and designated places to work, and your only limitations are hours of operation. (And obviously, don’t make any phone calls).

    Libraries often have secluded workspaces and conference rooms that you can reserve.

    4. Computer

    Need a computer too? Virtually all libraries have desktops available, and some even have laptops that you can rent on-site. These devices come with a time limit for their use, but they still come in handy for many situations, and they also have printers available for frequent use. That’s why libraries make excellent work spaces.

    5. Free Images
    Need great stock images that are more historical or natural, or famous works of art, or need to see some local maps? Libraries can help everyone with this.

    The New York Public Library has 200,000 free images that you can use for any purpose, and you can download them from your home right now. It also houses a collection of 180,000 works of art, literature and performance, many of which are in the public domain, as well as 672,000 items in its digital collection in general.

    Check out any item in your home now, and use the public domain one for just about any purpose you can think of. Then perhaps enjoy the collection of coloring pages from world-class libraries and museums that you can print out as and when made available through the libraries’ digitization efforts.

    Also, don’t forget to check out what similar services your local library has—you might find some great old maps of your city or paintings by local old-timers.