Bookmarks (417)

As long as we’ve had cameras, we’ve tried to take the perfect group photo. You set the camera on a stand, turn on the timer, run back to crowd, say “Cheese!” and hope no one blinked. Of course, someone often does, and you have to take the photo all over again—that is, unless you have a phone that can automatically…Read more...

The idea of surgery can be daunting. You’re unconscious while someone cuts into you, more or less, and there is nothing you can do about it—it is the height of helplessness. For some, none of that is a big deal. For others—especially first-timers—surgery can be really scary. Here are some tips for how to prepare for…Read more...

Split chores. Built-in company. Someone else’s expensive snacks for you to steal in gradual, imperceptible portions. There are a lot of compelling reasons to have roommates, but odds are your decision to live in a shared household is primarily a financial one.Read more...

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are lauded for their many features, but one common criticism for both devices surrounds the fingerprint scanner. This year, Google opted for an in-display fingerprint scanner, which is awesome in theory—it allows for an edge-to-edge display, without worrying about taking up any screen real…Read more...

Attention, internet: The new update to Google Chrome is out. Chrome 96 (full name 96.0.4664.45—catchy) is rolling out to all of our Google browsers this week. With it, we get some cool new features and, more importantly, essential security patches. That means if you don’t update, you could be putting your digital…Read more...

If you use Dropbox on Mac, you’ve probably been frustrated with its app at some point. The app is a resource hog, it keeps asking for your Mac password to update, and it doesn’t even support M1 Macs natively yet. Sure, it does run on M1 Macs via Rosetta 2, but the lack of native support leads to inordinately high CPU…Read more...

For an app that’s so popular globally, WhatsApp has managed to stay surprisingly simple: Most features in WhatsApp are obvious. Adding a contact, messaging in groups, and even group video calls are standard affairs.Read more...

Google can’t seem to stop making messaging apps. After Google Talk, Hangouts, and Allo (and millions of attempts at adding chatting to other Google services), we now have Google Chat—a new service with Slack-style rooms as its core feature. Google Chat is replacing the text-messaging park of Hangouts, while Google…Read more...

Facebook has become so omnipresent, it’s hard to gauge exactly how much data you’re inadvertently sharing with the social network. The company keeps adding pages upon pages of preferences and settings that make it nearly impossible to keep an eye on who can see your posts and who can access your private information.…Read more...

Amazon is so deeply entrenched in our lives that we all have a ton of info connected with the company. Even if you somehow haven’t directly used Amazon for shopping, you probably have used a Kindle, an Echo, or simply asked Alexa a question or two. Read more...

The ever-increasing number of devices in our homes may have you worried about your overall energy consumption. While there is no perfect solution or one-size-fits all approach to reducing your energy use, if you have a tool like a Google Home Hub, you can better track your consumption to look for ways to improve.…Read more...

You usually want a response when asking your Google Home device a question. When you issue a command, however—say, telling your Google Assistant to turn on the lights—you don’t really need a vocalized answer. If you find it distracting when your Google Home responds out loud to every command, there are a few ways you…Read more...

In the past, switching from iPhone to Android meant losing your in-app WhatsApp conversations. But now, all Galaxy and Pixel phones can transfer WhatsApp messages between operating systems. Whether you’re looking to switch from iPhone to Android or vice versa, your WhatsApp messages can make the switch, too.Read more...

The first freezing night of autumn can be disastrous for your garden. Although some plants thrive in low temperatures, many others die at the merest kiss of frost. Don’t get caught out in the cold—here’s how to get ready for the first frost of the season.Read more...

It’s painful to snap what seems like a fantastic photo, only to find an unwanted intruder in the frame. Maybe you didn’t realize you had a huge coffee stain on your shirt, or perhaps a nearby stranger accidentally photobombed. But before you turn to Photoshop, you can try a free option first.Read more...

Online multiplayer is great, but sometimes you want to plop down on the sofa next to your friend or spouse and play a game on the same screen. These 12 split-screen games were all released within the last five years, and any would make an excellent choice on your next couch co-op game night.Read more...

It’s update season, people! Apple’s latest for the Mac, macOS Monterey, is set to hit devices on Monday, Oct. 25, following four months of beta testing. The update comes standard on the new MacBook Pros, and brings tons of features and changes to your Mac. Let’s take a look at the 31 most exciting upgrades you’ll find…Read more...

This week, along with announcing the new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, Google also introduced Pixel Pass—a program that combines a subscription service bundle and the aforementioned Pixel 6 (or Pixel 6 Pro) under one roof. If you’re trying to decide whether the bundle is right for you, here are some things to consider.Read more...

Are you someone who enjoys playing video games, trying out the latest and greatest gaming tech, and writing? If so, you may be interested in a job that involves all three activities, can be done from anywhere in the world, and pays $60/hour. Read more...

Chrome is the most popular browser on the planet, so much so that Microsoft decided to rebuild its entire browser using Chromium, the same open-source engine that drives Chrome. It’s versatile and fast, but what sets Chrome apart is how extensible it can be thanks to a huge variety of extensions that add extra…Read more...

Whether you have a Google Home, Amazon Echo, or Apple’s HomePod, your smart speaker shouldn’t go ignored this Halloween. Just as you can ask Alexa to set a timer while you cook, or inquire about the weather with Google, you can also ask your smart speakers to embrace spooky season—if only you know what to ask.Read more...

Gmail has matured a lot over the years, so much so that you no longer need a third-party add-on for power-user features, such as scheduling emails. However, there is always room for more bells and whistles, particularly if your inbox serves as too much of a distraction, long email threads annoy you to no end, or you…Read more...

Whether used for work or to manage your private life, Google Calendar is a powerful tool that can handle a lot more than what most of us probably use it for. Out of the box (so to speak), this cloud-based app come with a robust set of default features that are easy to intuit, which makes it ideal for a lot of people.…Read more...

Google Drive is among the world’s most popular cloud storage services. And if you use Gmail, you use Google Drive too, since the 15GB free storage you have is shared between the two services. As Google Drive users ourselves, we found some useful tricks that’ll help you get more value from the service. Here are some of…Read more...