Still using Facebook Messenger? Might as well have fun. Tap the + (plus sign) in the bottom left during a chat, then hit the icon that looks like a game controller. Hello-o-o, timewasters! Play classics like Snake, Pac-Man, Solitaire and Tomb Runner without any extra downloads.
Tech trick: Boost the quality of your streaming audio
At any given time, there’s music playing in my house. I have my organizing music, sitting-by-the-pool jams, dinner playlists depending on how we’re feeling, tunes for getting ready … The list goes on.
If you’re a music lover, too, let’s get the bad news out of the way: The tunes you’re jamming to in your favorite streaming app are sub-par quality. The good news? It’s easy to fix that, and I can walk you through it.
Quick note: The options you see listed vary depending on whether or not you’re signed up for a premium-level sub. Yes, you have to pay if you want the best of the best. Now let’s get your listening from so-so to superb.
Spotify
From the Home tab in the Android or iOS mobile app:
- Tap your avatar (top left) > Settings and privacy > Audio quality.
Apple Music
If you’re on an iPhone:
- Open the iOS Settings screen > Music > Audio Quality.
- Enable Lossless Audio to see the options.
If you’re on Android:
- Open the Home tab in the Apple Music app.
- Tap the three dots (top right) and Settings > Select Audio quality.
YouTube Music
Necessary 60-second security checks: 4 quick cybersecurity steps to take NOW
I have to tell you this story. When my college-bound son moved to Los Angeles, he asked me for the house number of a place nearby that I rented 28 years ago for two months. I laughed because I couldn’t remember it. Then, I was shocked!
✈️ They’re spying on you: Travel apps including Airbnb and Booking.com are harvesting your data. Flight and hotel booking app Travelstart, for instance, can access your camera to take pics and videos. MakeMyTrip has 50 million downloads … and it can read your text messages. Check out the full list of snoopy apps. It just never stops.
In 2019, an app surpassed a huge milestone of 400 million downloads worldwide, offering features like daily to-do’s and audio tips. Was it an app for … A.) Fitness, B.) Video editing, C.) Reading the Bible or D.) Learning a new language?
Fastest internet providers in the US – Where’s yours on this list?
Sick of slow Wi-Fi? Your provider might be to blame.
Let’s look at the fastest (and slowest) average download speeds for providers across the U.S.
Streaming prices are out of control - See what services are charging
We’ve come a long way from the days of visiting Blockbuster Video on a Friday night to find a few movies to pass the weekend. These days, you don’t have to get off the couch to rent the latest Hollywood smash hit.
Now, you just fire up the smart TV and connect to your favorite streaming service to have fantastic content at your fingertips. Giants like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Paramount+ have emerged as dominant players, offering a vast array of movies, TV shows and original content.
You get what you pay for: Hackers got their hands on 19 million IP addresses by luring people in with “free” downloads like MaskVPN and DewVPN. If you ever downloaded a free VPN, uninstall it ASAP. My pick is ExpressVPN for a solid, safe option.
🔍 App traps: Over 90 apps with a combined 5.5 million downloads were spotted hiding malware in the Google Play Store. At the top of the list are PDF Reader & File Manager and QR Reader & File Manager, both packing the Anatsa banking Trojan that steals financial info. If you downloaded a compromised app, do a factory reset on your phone ASAP.
Scammers are cloning CleanMyMac X to steal passwords and data. Cons are spreading fakes through lookalike websites and stolen YouTube channels that lure you into malicious downloads.
Banking Trojan PixPirate conceals itself on older iPhones without a launcher icon. It infiltrates phones via WhatsApp or SMS phishing. Stay safe: Update your phone and stick to the Apple App Store for downloads. You can also grab the real app link on your bank’s website.
🌐 Need for speed: The FCC says the new required broadband standard is 100Mbps for downloads and 20Mbps for uploads. That’s a big jump from the old 25Mbps for downloads and 3Mbps for uploads. Here’s a reality check: 45 million Americans don’t have access to either high-speed internet or a decent mobile service.
Digital detox: How to put your phone down this summer
The idea of a digital detox is nothing new. Heck, the phrase brings up 66.6 million Google Search results.
Speaking of Google, you should hide your address, phone number and any other private details that come up in a search. Get the simple steps to do that here.
11 iPhone texting tips you'll wish you knew sooner
Texting is one of the best modern tech conveniences around. Instead of fussing with a phone call, you can compose messages and send them at any time. You can keep them short and sweet or long and strong. You can even spice them up with photos, GIFs, emojis, animojis and videos.
Smart trick to clean out your cluttered camera roll once and for all
Is your camera roll out of control? You might be able to keep yourself ahead of the game by taking things one day at a time. This simple trick can help clear out extra space on your device and improve its performance, all without wasting too much time or energy.
Apps with 421M downloads … and hidden malware
Sorry, Android users. More bad news for you on the app front. (I know, it never ends.) Security researchers at Dr. Web found spyware in more than 100 popular apps. The most popular ones on the list have over 100 million downloads.
How to ditch Office for Docs and Excel for Sheets
Microsoft Office has been around for a long time, and understandably, people love the familiarity with its applications. But it is expensive.
As more businesses and educational institutes switch to Google programs such as Docs and Sheets, it can’t hurt to check them out. And you can save money by switching.
Change these computer settings to stop programs from spying on you
Your phone knows a lot about you. It tracks your movement, browsing habits, downloads, and more. Here’s a trick to know when your phone’s camera or microphone is being used.
You must also worry about social media apps, voice assistants, and smart TVs from listening and recording what you have to say. Tap or click for steps to put a stop to it.
Have this app on your Android? Get rid of it
Not every scammy app was designed that way by the developers. Hackers can target popular apps and inject them with malicious code. And it’s incredibly spooky when this happens to one with a ton of downloads.
The app iRecorder – Screen Recorder has more than 50,000 installs … now passes along a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) to users, Cybersecurity firm ESET says.
Tech fix: What to do when you can't download apps to your Android phone
Unfortunately, there are times when the apps you want to add to your Android won’t download. You may try and try but end up staring at the screen, waiting endlessly for the app to load on your device.
Complicating the issue is there are tons of reasons apps won’t download. Here are some steps to troubleshoot the problem and download apps again on your Android.