How To

How to take control of your Foursquare account privacy

As location-based services (LBS) become more and more popular, the debate surrounding privacy grows as well. One popular LBS service, Foursquare, is growing in popularity by the day.

Through this guide we plan to show you how to customize the privacy settings of your Foursquare account; allowing you to reveal or limit as much personal information as you would like. … Read more

Six ways to improve iPhone battery life

As the iPhone 4 approaches its first birthday (and previous models approach their second, third, etc.), it's time to start looking at ways to improve battery life. After all, it's around the one-year mark that most batteries start to lose some capacity, meaning your phone simply won't run as long as it used to between charges.

New York Times tech columnist David Pogue recently got four iPhone battery tips from an Apple store Genius--some of them obvious, some not-so-obvious. Here's an overview of the advice, along with my thoughts and two additional tips from yours truly.… Read more

How to upload mobile photos to any Facebook album

When you upload mobile photos with your Android or iPhone, snapshots are placed in the "Mobile Uploads" album on your Facebook profile.

But what if you want to put them in a specific album, like your album of food photos, kids, or the one for travel? Here's how:

Step 1. In the Facebook mobile app, go to your profile and head to the "Photos" tab. Tap to select the album where you'd like to place the photo.

Step 2. In the upper right, tap the camera button and choose to take a snapshot, or … Read more

5 ways to get the most out of your Instagram photos

Instagram (iTunes link) is a free iPhone application that enables users to upload their photos, apply some filters and special effects, then upload them to a personal timeline. Instagram can turn the worst of photographers into a "photog."

What if you want to do something with a photo or photos you are particularly proud of? We have put together five ways you can use and interact with your Instagrammed photos outside of the Instagram app on your iPhone.… Read more

How to stream your music from the cloud for free

Cloud storage is popping up everywhere lately, and businesses are scrambling to fill niches. While the Amazon Cloud Drive looks like a solid contender to take over the streaming-media territory, its cost (and potential legal issues) drive many users to look elsewhere. MiMedia, which started out as a cloud backup service, has added a simple media player to its 7GB of free storage to create a virtual MP3 player usable on any Web-enabled device. Here's how to get started:

Start a free account with MiMedia and install the application (currently Windows-only, with a Mac version promised for the near … Read more

Android apps: How to try before you buy

Buyer's remorse isn't limited to big-ticket items like cars and HDTVs. It can also strike after you shell out for a new app--even one that costs just a few bucks. If it wasn't what you thought it was, or just wasn't very good, you'll probably end up feeling the buyer's blues.

In the desktop world, many programs let you try before you buy, usually with a 14- or 30-day evaluation period. But when it comes to smartphone apps, there's no such thing.

Or is there? As CNET's Lance Whitney reported back in … Read more

How to arrange iPhone and iPad apps using iTunes

Arranging apps on your iPhone or iPad is as simple as long-pressing on an app's icon, waiting until all the icons wiggle, and then dragging the apps around to where you want them. The downside to using this method, especially if you have a lot of apps installed, is that you can only move one app at a time. This simple guide will show you how to arrange multiple iOS apps using iTunes.… Read more

How to automate Android volume settings based on location

If you find yourself constantly fiddling with the volume settings on your Android phone as you make your way through the day, there's a simple way to automate the process of turning notifications and other sounds up, down, or off depending on your location. Llama, a free application, cleverly figures out where you are without needing GPS or even Wi-Fi enabled, then adjusts volume accordingly. Here's how you get started:… Read more

How to set up Google Latitude on Android

Google Latitude (used with Google Maps) offers another way to keep in touch with friends and family. By sharing locations people can see when it would be easy to grab a quick cup of a coffee together, or when there just isn't time to meet up. Follow these steps to learn how to activate and set up Google Latitude according to your preferences.

1. Open the Google Maps app on your phone or tablet.

2. Press the Menu button and select Join Latitude. If this option doesn't appear, choose More, and then Labs. You will find the Latitude … Read more