Dig out that MacBook and put it to good use. Alexei H/Shutterstock To get the most out of your old MacBook, you may have thought about using it as a home Network Attached Storage (NAS) server. There are several paths to take, from very simple use of the built-in macOS sharing tools to advanced Linux-based solutions. What can you do with a NAS? Most NAS servers exist for one of three functions: as a home media library, for collaboration and sharing, or for storage and backup. Considering the value of data, storage constraints, and the inherent…
Author: Alexander Price
You will eventually let it go. Protecting yourself is essential. If you have a fancy new foldable phone like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 or Apple iPhone Duo, perhaps even an older model from Samsung, Motorola, or another brand, you’ll want to protect it. The first accessory you should buy for any phone, foldable or not, is a protective case. But they’re especially important for foldable phones, which tend to be more delicate due to hinge design and often have a lower dust-resistance rating. But you may be wondering what a foldable phone case actually protects, especially since foldable…
A few tips provide a smooth Google Maps experience in your car with CarPlay. Chinnapong/Shutterstock Apple Maps has improved a lot since its rocky launch, but many people still prefer Google Maps. This could be due to traffic data, better business listings, or just out of habit. The good news is that you can use Google Maps in Apple CarPlay like any other supported app. Apple has always been restrictive when it comes to changing the iPhone’s default apps. In the EU and Japan, local regulations allow you to choose your preferred navigation app as the…
They’re pretty, but are they worth the price? Framesira/Shutterstock Apple, Google, Samsung: all the major manufacturers offer foldable phones, and consumers are increasingly curious about them. While the category isn’t huge, accounting for about 2% of the entire smartphone market, it’s growing as buyers decide the features they offer justify their significantly higher price. But it may be true to say that when you’re spending more than $2,000 on a device, you want it to be able to deliver the high-end features it promises. So, what are the pros and cons of using a foldable phone?…
Sommart Sombutwanitkul/Shutterstock The Google Pixel 11’s Extreme Charging feature is similar to Fast Charging in what it wants to accomplish, but rather than increasing the power sent to the phone, it stops background tasks to focus on charging. Both features aim to charge in a very short window and will increase the average charging temperature. Although fast charging may seem bad for your battery due to the extra heat, the damage is considered minimal. This is because your phone and the charger’s smart chip can regulate charging to safe levels.…
Andrey Baidak/Shutterstock Google recently added the much-anticipated speedometer to the Google Maps app on Android Auto. The feature displays your current speed along with available speed limit data on your car’s screen, making it much easier to monitor your speed and stay safe. It took a while for Android Auto users to get this feature, however, as it was available on other platforms since 2019. However, many drivers using Android Auto may have to wait a little longer before they can use it properly. Although the feature was only added…
How Apple’s entry into the foldable market could boost its biggest rival. Wongsakorn 2468/Shutterstock Apple recently unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone. Even though the product won’t hit stores until next month, the announcement alone was enough to get the smartphone world talking. And while Apple is making its first attempt at this form factor, others, like Samsung, have been doing it for a while – the original Galaxy Fold from 2019 was one of the first mainstream foldable devices. It turns out that the iPhone Duo announcement could also prove positive for competing…
Live Text makes it easy to interact with text you see anywhere by pointing your iPhone’s camera at it. vfhnb12/Shutterstock A feature called Live Text leverages your iPhone’s camera to instantly interact with text you point to. It is available on iPhones up to the XS series running iOS 15 and later. When you view a website, sign, poster, flyer, or almost anything else within your camera’s frame, you can copy or share it, search for information, or even translate it. It is similar to the Visual Intelligence feature, but does not require an Apple Intelligence-enabled…
The name of Apple’s first foldable gives some people déjà vu. Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images There’s been a lot of talk about the iPhone Duo (see our iPhone Duo hands-on) since Apple announced the company’s first foldable smartphone in early September. While the device isn’t revolutionary (foldable phones have been around in the Android space for a while), it marks a departure for Apple. But besides the features, functions and the compact and stylish design, people especially focus on the name. While you might not think the word “Duo” in the moniker would be controversial, many people…
DenPhotos/Shutterstock You can control a lot of things on your smartphone, from the appearance of its home screen to personalized ringtones. What’s strangely missing from these settings is an option to adjust how long your phone actually rings. When someone calls and the phone goes through its ring sequence, if it’s too long with too many rings or too short, you’re out of luck because you’re stuck with the way things are going. At least it is not possible to change this manually from the device in the majority of…