smartphone

Use your voice to take pictures with the Samsung Galaxy S III

Some Android smartphones have a dedicated camera shutter button, or at least a button combination that takes a photo. Usually, it's on the top of edge of the phone, and it works well when you're trying to hang onto the phone and snap a shot at the same time. If your only camera button is onscreen, as in the case of the Samsung Galaxy S III (S3), you can actually tell the camera when to take a photo instead of tapping the button.
To do this you'll need to enable voice commands for apps, which can be … Read more

How to access Outlook.com e-mail on Android

There are two ways to check your Outlook.com e-mail account on Android. One way is to point your Android browser to www.outlook.com. Once you log in, the Web site will autodetect your browser and load the mobile version of Outlook.com. It looks great and works well in a pinch, but if you prefer app-based access, you can use the official Hotmail app.
The Hotmail app isn't limited to just Hotmail accounts. Instead of typing in a Hotmail address during setup, type in your Outlook.com e-mail address and password. If you have multiple Outlook.com … Read more

How to use Facebook photos for Android contacts

Depending on which version of Android you're running, there might be a Bugdroid or gender-neutral silhouette that appears for each contact that is missing a custom photo. While seeing these instead of a contact's photo isn't too big of a deal, it's always nice to see the faces of your family and friends that are calling you. This is especially useful if you're at a location where the volume of your device needs to be turned off and you can see who is calling with just a quick glance.
While this method is a bit … Read more

How to find your iOS device's UDID

If you own an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, you undoubtedly read with consternation the story on Monday about the Anonymous-affiliated group AntiSec claiming to have snatched data for 12 million iOS devices from the FBI (and the FBI's vague denial yesterday that its agent's laptop was hacked).
AntiSec claims it obtained 12 million Unique Device Identifiers (UDIDs) along with user names, device names, device type, zip codes, cell phone numbers, addresses and Apple Push Notification Service tokens. In a post on PasteBin, AntiSec says it released data for 1 million devices, though the group claims to have … Read more

If you own an iPhone, install Lost Kidz right now

Every parent fears losing his or her child. Whether you're shopping at a department store, or visiting a theme park -- a lost child is a very real possibility.
A new iOS app, Lost Kidz, wants to help reunite parents with a lost child as soon as possible. iOS users can install the app and set up an account, free of charge, to receive alerts of missing kids nearby, based off of their iPhone's current location. The alert will contain a photo and information about the child to help you quickly identify, and reunite the lost child with … Read more

Create color palettes with SwatchMatic for Android

Matching the colors on larger items you can't tote into stores or around town can sometimes be difficult -- especially when it's something like your walls or furnishings. If you love color matching and coordination, then SwatchMatic is the app for you.
All you need to get started is an Android device with a camera and a copy of the SwatchMatic app. Once installed, simply point the app at an object to start matching the color. When you see a color tab in the wheel that looks like an exact match, or at least something close, tap … Read more

Grab deals with RetailMeNot for Android

RetailMeNot is a deal site that enables you to find coupons and discounts at tens of thousands of nationwide stores. Whether you're looking for deals on clothes, accessories, furniture or food, its slogan is "Save when you want, where you want," and its mobile app delivers it all.
You can search by specific store, popular items, or just by category, and then the results will be sorted by online and in-store. In-store coupons can be used by showing your screen to the cashier so he or she can scan the bar code. Coupons can be … Read more

Check out Google Play recommended apps

Scouring the Google Play Store for apps isn't always easy. When looking for an app you'll probably know the category it falls into, and you might know the name of something that works similarly to what you're looking for. Unfortunately, it's still a lot of work to sort through each entry until you find the perfect one.
You could look at app reviews online, or check star ratings in the Play Store, or you could try looking at Recommended For You.
Just open the Google Play Store and tap on Apps, then tap on the banner … Read more

How to add your favorite sports teams to Google Now

Google Now is a bit creepy at times, there's no doubt about it. But, it's a fun service to use and it definitely provides some value to your Android experience.
Yesterday, Google released an update to the Search app, which powers Google Now. One of the features in the update allows Google Now users to add their favorite sports teams to the service, without having to rely on search history for your teams to show up in the app.
To add your favorite sports team, launch Google Now and scroll to the bottom of your list of cards. … Read more

Onavo Extend helps you use less data on Android 4.0

If you've only got a 1 or 2GB plan, adding a data-saving app like Onavo Extend might be a step in the right direction. You may remember my post about Onavo Count, an app for calculating your data usage, which is very similar to this one. The big difference between the two is that Extend takes saving data a step further by using its servers to compress data you request before it gets sent to you.
This app does come with a couple of caveats, though. First, it's not ideal for large file downloads, as it will reduce … Read more