How To

How to get more storage space for Android apps

Having tons of apps to choose from is one of the main perks of having a smartphone. Unfortunately, some apps may be keeping more stuff on your phone than just the core files needed by the app. This "stuff" is the cache for each app, which can be easily cleaned out to offer more space for new apps. Normally, you would need to look at the details for each individual app to see how much cache space it is consuming. However, with the use of one small app you can view their cache sizes all in one place, … Read more

How to enable Emoji icons on iOS for free

Have you ever received a message on your iPhone that looked like the one above? Emoji icons have grown in popularity for iOS devices over the last couple of years. With this simple guide we are going to show you how to get an Emoji keyboard on your iPhone, iPad or iPad Touch for free; allowing you to join in on the fun. … Read more

How to sort contacts by last name on your Droid X

With the latest update to Gingerbread (Android 2.3.3), the contact list on the Droid X can now be sorted by last name. Here's how:

Step 1: From your contacts list, hit the Menu key, then select Display Options.

Step 2: In Display Options, select Sort list by.

Step 3: Select Last name to sort your contacts by last name.

That's it. Now you can finally sort your contact list on the Droid X by last name.

How to stream your music collection to any Web-enabled device

Most personal music-streaming services rely on the cloud to keep your tunes flowing, but they all tend to limit how much you can stream unless you pay up. You could set up a server at home that delivers your music more or less securely wherever you want it, but for those of us who don't have the time, skills, equipment, or inclination to do so, there's Audiogalaxy. This "cloud music player" scans your music library and then streams up to 200,000 songs to any Web-enabled device. Here's how to get started:

Go to Audiogalaxy … Read more

Stop pocket-dialing on your iPhone

After reading Nicole Cozma's post about how to stop pocket-dialing from an Android phone, I wondered if the same tips would apply to iPhone users. First, I checked the App Store for something akin to Call Confirm, the Android app that presents an extra step before you place a call. No luck. The closest I found was Call Guard, a $0.99 app that does the opposite--preventing you from hanging up on someone during a call. In the end, iPhone users have two tactics they can employ to lessen the chance that their pocket, purse, or butt dials on its own.… Read more

How to use an iOS device as a flash drive

Yesterday, I wrote about how to use iPhone Explorer to change app icons on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. This free app is also helpful for transferring files to and from your iOS devices, and it works with both PCs and Macs.

iPhone Explorer is much leaner than iTunes, making file transfers quick and painless. You will, however, need iTunes 8 or later. And you can't access the files on the iOS device itself. But should you want to carry some files with you to share with a friend or simply to back up to a computer, you don't need to hunt around for that thumbdrive. Just grab your iPhone and go. … Read more

How to force nonmobile Web site versions on Android browsers

The native HTML browser on Android phones often load mobile versions of websites automatically. Devices with large, beautiful screens, like the Samsung Galaxy 10.1, can easily take advantage of full versions. Sometimes Web sites give you the option to view the full version of the site, but not always. There's an easy way to force desktop versions to load, but first you'll need to access some hidden settings. Here's how:

Step 1: In the address bar of the Android browser, type, "about:debug" and hit the Enter key.

Step 2: Hit the Menu key … Read more

How to change an app icon on an iOS device

I am always hitting the Safari icon when I mean to open Mail, and vice versa; I blame the icons' similar blue hue. I set out to change one of these icons, but without the effort required to jailbreak my iPhone. What I found was a free PC/Mac app called iPhone Explorer and the realization that I would have to live with the blue Safari and Mail icons.

Using iPhone Explorer, you can swap in new icons for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch apps, but only for third-party apps. Native apps like Safari and Mail can't be … Read more

How to reduce your Android screen's brightness for night reading

Even the lowest brightness level on Android phones tends to be bright in a pitch-black room. To ease your eyes, here's how to set up a simple app to reduce the brightness even further:

Step 1: From the Android Market, search for and install an app called Screen Filter, by haxor industry, and launch it.

Step 2: The Screen Filter icon will display in the notification bar. Drag the notification bar down and select Screen Filter.

Step 3: If you don't like the default filter percentage, drag the slider until you find the filter level you want.

It … Read more