Rolling out on Android phones now

December 6, 2024

Rolling out on Android phones now: Google’s Gemini AI will work in more apps, write captions for social posts and photos, combine emojis (Apple did it first), and share QR codes. Pixel phones get exclusives like having Gemini save your info and updates to Pixel Screenshots … which Apple already has. You can also circle something on your Pixel to search for it. It’s pretty sweet.

Tags: AI (artificial intelligence), Android, Apple, emojis, Google, Google Pixel, QR codes, screenshots

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Antivirus comparison: Which option is best for your PC or Mac?

If you browse the internet regularly, you can’t get around the fact that you need antivirus software. Viruses can pop up in unexpected places, and you want your device to be able to fight one off if it appears.

Dangerous malware making the rounds is what makes having antivirus software protecting you so critical. But what’s the best antivirus software for a Mac or Windows computer? Keep reading to see the best options.

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Hidden trackers invade your browser – How to delete them

Internet cookies have been around for the last 30 years. Blame them on a programmer at Netscape who figured out a way for websites to “remember” users. Today, there are a few different types of cookies.

A first-party cookie is stored in your browser when you visit a website. It keeps things like your account or login info and shopping cart so you don’t have to fill them in each time. We like those kinds of cookies.

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🛠️ Built-in network helper: Can’t connect to Wi‑Fi? On a Windows PC, right-click the Wi‑Fi icon in your taskbar, select Troubleshoot problems or Diagnose network problems, and let Windows work its magic. On a Mac, press and hold Option on your keyboard while clicking the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar. Choose Network settings from the menu.

Try this, Mac friends: Hit Option + Cmd + L to quickly open your Downloads folder. If your browser is active, it’ll show your latest browser downloads. Nice.

Smart small-biz freebie: Chasms has full user guides on everything from tablets to browsers and even gaming consoles. The best part? You can click through screenshots of the actual steps — a real lifesaver if you’re helping someone troubleshoot.

⌨️ Keyboard master: On a PC, press the Windows key + a number to launch or switch to the corresponding program on the taskbar. Pro tip: Click, hold down and drag a program to reorder.

Ho-ho-hope your packages arrive on time: Gmail’s package tracking now includes real-time updates. On your phone, tap Menu > Settings. Look for General settings (Android) or Data privacy (Apple) and toggle on Package tracking at the bottom.

💃 Spotify Wrapped and Apple Music Replay are here: Show off (or shake your head in embarrassment at) your most-listened tunes of the year. For Wrapped, open Spotify on your phone or computer, then click the Wrapped tab at the top of the home page. For Replay, open the Apple Music app, and a slideshow will automatically pop up. On desktop, go to replay.music.apple.com.

Get sound alerts from your phone: Your phone can alert you to noisy things like barking dogs, crying kids or broken glass. Don’t rely on it to tell you if the baby is crying or to keep your dog safe, but it’s a nice fallback.

On iPhone: Go to Settings > Accessibility > toggle on Sound Recognition. Tap Sounds to customize.
On Android: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Sound Notifications. Turn it on, then tap the cog icon to customize.

🌤️ Rise and shine: Have an Echo? Say, “Alexa, good morning.” Your speaker will provide a personalized briefing — weather, news and the day’s events on your calendar.

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