Is your iPhone speaker too quiet? The likely culprit will gross you out

What’s dirtier — your phone or toilet? The answer probably won’t surprise you. Your gadgets get constant use, and this adds to the grime. Here are the top five dirtiest devices.

Apart from spreading germs and turning your stomach, a dirty phone can cause you to question your hearing. We’ll explain below.

Can you hear me now?

Have you been having problems hearing people on the phone? What about playing music or movies through your phone’s speaker? Do things sound muffled?

Before you schedule a hearing test, think of all the places you put your phone every day: in your pocket or purse, on your desk, in your car’s cup holder, or on the dinner table. And though we don’t condone it, the bathroom.

Your phone picks up lint, dust, dirt and grime wherever you go. All that stuff gets into the nooks and crevices, some of which you need to operate the phone.

Your iPhone’s microphones and speakers are located in various areas: at the top-front in the notch, at the bottom and even in the camera array on the back.

They all work together to capture the sound around you when shooting video, to hear people better when you’re on the phone and to provide optimal sound when watching a movie or TV show, listening to music or on a call with the speaker turned on.

If these components get jammed with dirt, you’ll have problems hearing anything, and so will the people talking to you. The simple solution is to clean your phone, right? Yes, but you have to be careful or you can make things worse.

Here are some products to help safely clean and disinfect your phone.

Reusable cleaning gel

This goop picks up dust and dirt from deep crevices, including your phone’s speaker and microphone ports. It also safely cleans your keyboard, printer, speakers, camera, TV remote and other electronics.

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Small biz tip: How to set up an authenticator to protect your work accounts

Your business accounts have tons of private data you don’t want hackers to see. Although two-step verification (2FA) keeps hackers out, you can’t rely on texts to prove your identity. Hackers can intercept your messages.

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Stealing baseball signs using machine learning

Baseball may seem like a maze of statistics and numbers, but one tradition remains a mystery — the hand signals a third base coach uses to indicate a steal. Imagine if a simple app could predict the runner’s next move. That’s exactly what one computer engineer tried to do.

One app pedophiles love most

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Where’s the most dangerous app for kids online? Hint: It’s the one they spend the most time in. I’ll explain why in 60 seconds.

Want a fun side job? 5 off-the-wall ways to make money online

Want to work from home? There are countless creative things you can do to earn money. We rounded up five fun and unconventional ways to make money online.

After all, you don’t have time to research every off-the-wall job. Searching for “weird ways to make money fast” or “best ways to earn money on the side” will take a long time. If you struggle to find accurate search results, use these five Google research tips.

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How NOT to sound dumb online: Common mistakes and grammar fixes

The early days of social media were a place to keep in touch with classmates, friends and family. It’s devolved into a frenzy of privacy invasion, targeted advertising, trolls and fake news. Surprisingly, these are still the most popular digital platforms worldwide.

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How Spotify determines your personal music taste

Spotify is one of the world’s largest music streaming services with almost a quarter billion active users. And if you have ever used Spotify, you know it is impressive how well the app can get to know your music preferences. How does this software work? Through extremely complex math, of course.

Get extra cash washing clothes with this app

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Want to get paid for doing your weekly chores? Listen to this one-minute podcast for an app that will help you earn money.

Which apps are worth your location data?

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Are you letting your apps access your location history? Here’s why that’s dangerous, in one minute.

Get out of a bad patch with these 3 cash advance apps

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Rough time between paychecks? You’re not alone. Listen to this one-minute podcast for three helpful cash advance apps.

This app helps with PTSD

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Tech can change your life for the better. Listen to this one-minute podcast to find out how the Apple Watch app helps soldiers.

Get this walkie-talkie app for Apple Watch

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Do you text more than you talk over the phone? Listen to this one-minute podcast for a better way to communicate. (Hint: It’s modern with an old-school flair!)

Stop AirTag stalkers on Android with AirGuard app

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Did someone secretly slip an AirTag into your car or purse? You might be in danger. Listen to this one-minute podcast for a surefire way to protect yourself.

Chances of a Musk Twitter failure

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Liberal media pundits are attacking Elon Musk and Twitter. Some say the app’s going down — but I don’t agree. Here’s why, in 60 seconds.

10 ways to make money for Christmas that anyone can do

Is there anything better than the holidays? Food, family, and gifts. What more could you want? Tap or click here for creative ways to include your pet in this year’s holiday cards.

As with anything in life, these things all come at a cost. That’s why we’re here to share ways to make this holiday season one your family and friends will never forget.

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Messy photo gallery? Tricks to clean it up once and for all

The temperature outside is dropping, and you know what that means — holiday photo cards! If you want your card to command some real estate on your loved ones’ refrigerators, the easiest trick is to bring in your pet! Tap or click here for creative ways to include your furry friend in this year’s holiday cards.

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Apple has a new free app you'll want

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Want to bring new ideas to life? Apple’s new app is like a digital whiteboard: You can draw, write and share your thoughts with others. Here’s how it works, in 60 seconds.

Today's hottest app is one nobody expected

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Did you know that today’s hottest free app is one nobody expected? Here’s the full story, in 60 seconds.

Iris scanning tech is coming soon to more devices

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Do you scan your iris to log in to your smartphone? Soon you could use your eyeballs to use apps and pay for things. Here’s how, in 60 seconds.

Control your iPhone or Android with your voice

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Sick of fumbling around with your smartphone’s menus and apps? Listen to this one-minute podcast to use your voice instead.