The Google Chrome pop-up blocker is useful for blocking annoying ads. But sometimes, it can be the problem instead of the solution. Some websites use redirects or pop-up windows to start a download and display verification checks, among other functionality. Your browser may flag them as intrusive ads because it's a default setting, but you can turn it off in the settings menu. However, you'll lose control of how ads and redirects appear on your screen.
Gboard: How to add, edit, and remove words from your personal dictionary
Teach Gboard to understand that you don't mean "I ducking hate autocorrect" every time
Texting is one activity most people can't do without. Virtual keyboards make it effortless every day. Google's Gboard is one such keyboard that offers more features besides basic texting capabilities, including language translation and voice typing. When you activate auto-corrections, your keyboard becomes a know-it-all and modifies spellings without asking. You may find this feature annoying if you regularly use slang and shorthand.
Spotify enables you to stream music for free, but not without making sacrifices. You can't download songs for offline use or have an ad-free experience unless you go premium. You can subscribe to plans using your preferred payment method. Plans range from Individual to Prepaid and Family plans. If you're a subscriber who wants to switch to PayPal or different debit and credit cards, you may notice that the app doesn't provide such an option. It means you'll need a web browser, which is a longer process than anyone would like.
Blogger is among the earliest content management systems (CMS) introduced to the internet. It was launched in 1999, and the WordPress predecessor has since provided an intuitive space for creating websites in minutes. With Google acquiring the platform in 2003, you now have the added benefits of monitoring visitor activities and drag-and-drop functionality from your personal laptops. The acquisition doesn't boost your ranking on the search engines over non-Blogger sites. However, it paves the way for more new and improved features.
How to remove viruses and malware from an Android phone
Is it really a virus or another type of malware? Let's fix it anyway
Mobile viruses are unheard of, compared to computer viruses, and internet users have long argued over their existence. While your phone can fall prey to malware, it's unlikely that it's a virus. Android phones are more exposed to malware than iPhones because of their open source operating system (OS). Downloading files from anywhere on the internet is a perk, but just this once, Apple users are lucky not to have it.
6 simple ways to create a burner phone number in seconds
Keep your personal phone number private by grabbing a burner number
Your phone number is as delicate as your Social Security Number. It stays with you for life unless you decide to get a new one. In the wrong hands, it could expose you to numerous privacy threats, including spam calls and annoying telemarketers. If you don't feel comfortable giving your digits to strangers, a burner number is useful in this case.
How to make a YouTube playlist
Keep all your favorite game walkthroughs in one playlist, and life hack tutorials in another
Playlists aren't new concepts, and we're used to them on most music players. YouTube offers a similar queue system where you can save your favorite videos as a collection and play them in order. You can create a playlist for humorous videos, cooking recipes, or video game walkthroughs and binge through them on your preferred tablets, smartphones, and computers.
How to use Purchase Requests in the Google Play Store
Now, your kids can't evade asking your permission to buy Play Store content
Purchase Approval settings give you control over what content your little ones can buy and download in the Google Play Store. You can require permission for all apps or just In-App Purchases (IAPs). Typically, you'll enter your password on their device to permit paid apps or tap the approve option for free downloads. But these methods only work when you set up a payment method that everyone shares in your Family group. If you don't want to expose your card to multiple people, Google still lets you cover your children's expenses.
Filters, streaks, and scores are part of what gives Snapchat a fun and competitive edge over many social media apps. Most of us are guilty of swapping chat media tirelessly to see how high we can get those numbers. But even the best entertainment apps become boring the longer you use them. Sometimes, you may feel like you've seen it all and have no further interest in interacting with Snapchat. Other times, life happens and makes it hard to keep up with new online trends.
How to install and manage apps on your Samsung smart TV
Your Samsung smart TV experience is much better with third-party apps
TV functionality has long evolved from only letting you watch movies. Now you can screencast videos from your gadgets without HDMI cables or use Wi-Fi routers to stream them directly from the internet. Among other capabilities, you can download your favorite apps and use them on a wider screen. On Android TV, installing apps is possible from your phone. This synchronization level isn't possible on Samsung TVs and some other brands because they use a different operating system (OS).
12 common TikTok problems and how to solve them
Fix all the annoying TikTok issues that interrupts your doomswiping
TikTok is the home of addictive and viral short videos. If you've yet succumb to its short-form videos, take a second to check out our TikTok guide to learn about the app. One of the things that makes the platform special is its For You Feed (FYF) shows you content you'd most likely enjoy, creating a personalized experience. It's part of what glues people to their phones. But while you're burning through its vast video library, TikTok uses your phone storage to store caches. The more they accumulate, the more they impact the app's performance. You'll experience crashes, lag, or audio problems more frequently.
How to share your Amazon Prime Video login with Amazon Household
There's no longer a need to share your Amazon Prime username and password with your family
Over the last year, subscription services have hiked streaming prices and embraced advertising to stay afloat. This business move means you'll pay extra to catch up with your favorite shows and have to give up certain perks. Among them is password sharing, the feature that lets you open your account to family and friends for simultaneous streaming. Netflix is the first to crack down on the feature, but many viewers worry it's a catalyst for other streaming giants.
Snapchat is a popular communication app with plenty of staying power. When it was introduced, the novelty feature of pairing texts with images took the world by storm. The app was limited to smartphones, but now you can use Snapchat on your computer. Self-deleting messages also add to the intrigue of the platform, but sometimes, these messages contain special images and videos. You may want to hold on to them, especially if you took them with the Google Pixel 7 series camera or other flagships.
Google Maps is a powerful tool for navigating the world around you. It provides detailed layouts to guide you through known and unknown territory, reducing the chances of getting lost. Also, Maps takes away the discomfort of asking strangers for directions and allows you to share your real-time whereabouts with loved ones. One of Maps' most interesting features is Street View, which allows you to explore streets in a given location as if you were physically there.
How to alphabetize in Google Docs
Sort lists and paragraphs in alphabetical and reverse alphabetical order
Alphabetizing makes your documents look organized. List items are easier to remember and find when you give them an ABC sequence rather than scrambling them. In Google Sheets, this filing system is possible with the sorting feature. However, Google Docs doesn't have it. But one good thing about the cloud-based collaborative workspace platform is the support for third-party extensions.
Slack remains among the best business apps for your organization's teams. It groups information into workspaces where everyone can see what they need to know and when they need it. You can create or join separate channels for management, feedback, projects, and team-building activities. If you're part of another organization, you can add it to the app and switch whenever you want.
How to permanently delete and restore files on your Google Drive
Deep clean your Google Drive account for better storage management
Google's cloud storage provides enough room for keeping those large files your device can't contain. With 15GB of free space, you can easily upload videos, pictures, documents, audio, and other content from your favorite Android phone, tablet, or PC. But once storage runs out, you can look into a Google One membership for more. But you can also maximize the benefits of the free space provided to you without needing to subscribe yet, with a few simple tricks.
How to take a good photo on a cheap phone
108 megapixels surely looks tempting, but you can make do with your current phone
A flagship phone with 108 megapixels is nice to have for capturing moments with family and friends. But unless you plan to sell your photos as stock images or start a career in mobile photography, it's not worth splurging on a phone that's only used for occasional selfies. Sometimes, simplicity is key. While your phone's megapixel count matters, you won't see its full potential if you don't know how to take pictures.
How to create named functions in Google Sheets
Who needs App Script when you can make custom functions right in Sheets?
SUM and VLOOKUP are only a few of the functions Google Sheets offers for using mathematical formulas. When dealing with complex calculations, you could turn to Apps Script to create a custom one. But unless you have JavaScript knowledge, it's a difficult procedure. As of August 2022, Google simplified the process of creating custom functions.
How to know if someone has blocked your phone number
Find out if you've been blocked or you simply aren't able to get ahold of the other party
There are many reasons why a person may want to permanently prevent you from contacting them. The best way to know if it has happened to you and why is to ask them in person. But that's an awkward confrontation no one looks forward to having. Even the best Android smartphones on the market don't provide features for detecting those reasons. Still, you'll see signs showing that someone cut you off completely. While you can't unblock your phone number from someone else's phone, you can get closure.