Ben has been writing about technology and consumer electronics for more than 20 years. A PCWorld contributor since 2014, Ben joined TechHive in 2019, where he covers smart speakers, soundbars, and other smart and home-theater devices. You can follow Ben on Twitter.
There's a growing list of customization options available on the "stock" Android keyboard. You can change the color of the keypad; you can also create your own background using an image from your camera roll. Read on for more.
Slow down the double-click speed on your iPhone or iPad's Home button, keep the Home key from accessing Siri from the lock screen, turn on triple-click shortcuts, and more.
What a difference a year makes, particularly when it comes to Android and Google's ever-changing Maps app. New features include searching and navigating in 'offline' mode, as well as viewing (or hiding) your contacts on the map.
You'd be surprised at how quickly your iPhone or iPad can chew through storage, particularly the tiny 16GB model. If you're feeling jammed, try these easy ways to find a few gigs of breathing room.
So there you are, running from meeting to meeting on a particularly busy day when you suddenly notice your iPhone or Android phone’s battery gauge is deep in the red. These tips will help staunch the bleeding.
Google's slick, modern-looking Calendar app for Android and iOS practically reads your mind as you're creating an event, suggesting times, people and places that you can quickly add with a tap.
The Wi-Fi settings on your Android device are worth tweaking. Find out how many hotspots your Android handset has saved, use less data on "metered" Wi-Fi networks, connect to faster Wi-FI frequency bands, and more.
Google's two-year-old Camera app boasts a bevy of handy features, from a self-timer and exposure settings to the ability to create a Street View-like photo sphere.
You'll have an easier time finding your way around Android and iOS once you're hip to the hamburger menu, the overflow button, the action button, and more.
Once you get good at it, typing with a swipe can feel much easier and faster than tapping. We've got a few pointers to help you scale the learning curve.rn
There's an easy way to zap your contact info to just about any Android or iOS user, and you don't need any exotic apps or wireless technology to do it.
If editing or even creating a Google Docs file on a five-inch touchscreen sounds nuts to you, listen up: it's totally doable, once you've mastered a few tricks.