Sam’s Club is using AI to check what’s in your shopping cart — it’s supposed to make your trip to the store 23% faster. When will humans go extinct? Scientists claim to know when. Plus, precise friend-tracking with the iPhone 15, and a Dropbox data breach.
10 productivity apps for your smartphone to make you more efficient
Have you ever tried to balance a dozen tasks and burned yourself out? If you use your smartphone or tablet for work or just want to stay connected to your team, you already know how much of a hassle it can be. Mobile isn’t always the best choice.
Unless you have the right apps. Whether you’re on iPhone or Android, there are bound to be apps from this list that will change your workflow for the better.
Let’s make you and your phone more productive and save you time. Keep reading for 10 must-have apps.
1. Trello
Trello is one of the most-used Kanban-style task systems in the world. It offers a simple interface, an easy way to make cards and assign individuals to unique tasks. Make checklists, use Power-Ups to repeat certain card functions and use them for personal or work.
Trello can be used creatively to assign chores to your children and get alerted when they check off an item from their list or simply to organize completed tasks in remote teams so everyone knows where the workflow is. The free Trello is available for iOS and Android.
2. ProofHub
ProofHub is another freemium app that lets you track your Kanban boards, custom workflows and even assign roles. It can be used to organize tasks and events for an individual, although it works great as a collaborative tool.
You can mention (@ people), chat and host discussions to bring everyone up to speed without hopping on a Zoom call. If you’re trying to improve workflow for yourself or your team, ProofHub is the way to go. The free ProofHub app is available for iOS and Android.
3. Calendly
Calendly was a startup that became a must-have app for almost any business. With Calendly, you can send your open availability and allow others to book sections of your time. It means they build your schedule with engagements (if you allow them to), so you aren’t spending time mixing a schedule.
You can also charge for your time. Consultants and professionals can make money by “hopping on a call real quick,” so they make the most of their time. The free Calendly app is available for iOS and Android.
The safe way to save your tax files from years past (do this now!)
We’re down to the eleventh hour: Tax Day is coming up on April 18. If you’re one of the millions of Americans filing electronically, watch out! A popular e-file tax site was caught spreading malware for weeks. Here’s what you need to know.
Stop blabbin’: Dropbox’s AI may share your files with OpenAI and other third parties. Don’t remember signing up for that? Me, neither. To turn it off, log in to Dropbox, hit your Account icon, go to Settings, find the Third-Party AI tab and toggle the switch to Off.
Received a Dropbox link via email? Read this before you click
Phishing is among the most common forms of cybercrime. Scammers send countless messages via email, text or phone calls, hoping for a bite.
How do you know if a message is legitimate? It’s not always obvious, but there are ways to suss out the scams. Tap or click here for five subtle clues that email is really a clever phishing scam.
These family plans will save you money — even if you aren't family
Think about all the subscriptions you’re signed up for. Do you use all of them enough to warrant the expense? That’s money automatically being taken out of your account every month or year.
Some of your subscriptions may have started as free trials but are no longer free. Then there are apps you pay for that can be substituted for ones that don’t cost anything to use. Tap or click here for five mistakes you’re making that cost you money.
Tech how-to: 5 ways to share files too big to email
Our cameras take fabulous photos and videos. Our computers tackle data-packed spreadsheets. We can create detailed graphics that look incredible when blown up. But all of that comes with a drawback: huge files.
First, you need to make sure your computer, tablet or smartphone has enough storage to handle those files. Tap or click here for a quick trick to free up more space.
Easy ways to create custom ringtones for Android and iPhone
In a world where everyone uses the same apps to communicate, it’s nice to stand out. Now that we’re more reliant on our devices than ever before, why not make the best of it?
Emojis are tried and true but there’s not much in the way of individuality. You can make your own avatars to share with friends, family and even your coworkers. Tap or click here to check out four free avatar apps.
Done with Facebook? How to transfer your photos and videos before you ditch your account
Are you thinking about breaking up with Facebook? You’re not alone. Many people are fed up with Facebook’s policies along with the site’s pervasive data collection and tracking that doesn’t seem to stop.
You can take control back even if you want to stay with the site. Tap or click here for 10 critical Facebook privacy and security settings you need to change right now.
Warning: Your Gmail and Google Drive files could soon be deleted
Remember when you used to keep physical copies of photos? Those were the days. Even just viewing them would require printing them out.
That’s changed quite a bit as technology has advanced. Most smartphones have excellent cameras with multiple lenses these days, and our photos end up in a folder on our desktops rather than a photo album. You can even invest in a digital photo frame to display your images beautifully.
Tech tip: The best ways to back up your Mac
It might feel like we all have our heads in the cloud when it comes to backing up and sharing data. Mac users store their files in iCloud or Dropbox or through other cloud backup services. But there’s still a need for actual physical backup drives, and you will want one that’s a good match for your Mac.
Tech freebies: 15 upgrades you get for free
You’ve spent so much money already — on a laptop, tablet, computer, router, network extender, printer, and smartphone. You’ve signed up for the internet, and you’re paying monthly fees. You’ll be relieved to know that a lot of tech is free.
5 ways to share files that are too big to email
We all have file-size problems. Our cameras now take fabulous photos and crisp videos. Our computers can tackle monstrous spreadsheets. But all of that comes with a drawback: really huge files. So what do you do when you want to send that pile of digital photos to grandma, but the file is too big to attach to an email? In this tip, I’m sharing five ways to handle it.
9 subscription services actually worth the cash
Do you know off the top of your head just how many subscription services you’re signed up for? Everyone has a favorite platform they rely on for entertainment or news, but if you check your bank statement, you might be surprised at how much they all add up. And they probably aren’t all worth the money.
iPhones can easily be turned into a bodycam to record police
By now you have probably had enough time to get the hang of iOS 12. You have played around with some of its new features, enjoyed its faster speeds and, despite its flaws, probably think it’s a pretty good update.
But even if you have checked out the new features you could not afford to miss or have gotten the hang of some of the things you could never do prior to iOS 12, odds are good you haven’t seen all of what the new operating system allows.
5 frightening phishing scams to watch out for
Phishing scams have been running rampant in recent weeks, all too often taking hundreds of thousands of innocent victims to the cleaners and leaving them red-faced and with little to no money left in the bank. In order to stay protected from these seriously scary scams, you need to know what to look for.