6 ways tech can solve life's little annoyances

Minor tech annoyances can seem small at the moment. But in the grand scheme of things, they can cause stress and wasted time. If you don’t want tech issues to have a significant impact, cut them off with these tech life hacks.

They can even help you when you’re away from your computer. Read on for a few easy ways to make your life easier.

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1. Stop missing important emails

Most email providers let you turn on alerts. This way, you know immediately whenever an email comes in. You may read this and think, “I get too many emails. If I turned on alerts, my phone would constantly blow up!”

Hold on a second. You can turn on alerts for specific email addresses. This way, you’ll never miss an email from an important contact.

Using Gmail as an example, here’s how to use this feature:

Follow these steps on your iPhone, iPad or Android:

  1. First, open the Gmail app.
  2. Tap Menu > Settings.
  3. Select your account.
  4. Then, tap Email notifications > High priority only.

2. Stop forgetting what you need at the store

Always forgetting that one thing at the store? Have your phone remind you to pick it up when you walk through the door. Make a shopping list in the notes section of the Reminders app on your iPhone. Here’s how:

For iPhone:

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7 annoying Android problems and how to fix them

You love your Android smartphone, right? There’s a lot to like. The operating system is fast, flexible and usually safe. It’s also highly customizable when compared to iOS.

Of course, no device is perfect, and Android has a few annoying features. We have solutions to fix these annoyances. Note: Several manufacturers make Android smartphones. So the steps you use to fix these problems may vary from the ones below.

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📅 Cheaper than a personal assistant: ChatGPT can plan your day for you. Tell the AI your top three priorities, appointments or commitments and how long a task typically takes, then ask it to create a schedule. Bam, a bulleted list, scheduled to the minute.

Why you need smart lights

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You just got home and it’s dark. Want a brighter return? Schedule your light bulbs to turn on when you arrive. Here’s how, in one minute.

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Just plane awesome: Ever miss a connecting flight? Airlines are using AI to schedule planes to wait for late passengers, knowing everyone will still arrive on time. Those aboard? You’ll get real-time text messages about what’s happening. Plus, the AI pre-plans the most efficient routes, saving millions of gallons of fuel … and tons of pissed-off passengers.

7 clever uses for your smart doorbell camera

Smart doorbell cameras add a ton of value to your life. Not only do they make you feel more secure in your home, but they can deter criminals, too. If you let a burglar know you’re watching them, they may be too spooked to try anything.

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iPhone how-to: Set up Do Not Disturb

Look, we all have times when we don’t want to be disturbed, and our phones can easily become the worst kind of distraction. For all those times, iPhone has Do Not Disturb mode, which can even be customized to suit your every need.

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📅 AI personal assistant: Google Gemini or ChatGPT can plan your day for you. Tell the AI your top three priorities, appointments or commitments and how long a task typically takes. Then, ask it to create a schedule. Just like that, you’ll get a bulleted list, scheduled right down to the minute.

Still need something to do on your phone? Color-code events and tasks in your calendar app. Assign specific colors to categories like work, personal or appointments, allowing for a quick visual overview of your schedule.

Tech how-to: Set up Do Not Disturb on your Android

Sometimes you just need some peace and quiet. Thankfully, Android has you covered during those times with its Do Not Disturb feature. Regardless of what kind of Android device you have, we’ll show you how to quickly and easily silence your phone whenever the need arises.

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8 practical uses for inexpensive smart plugs

Ah, the humble electrical plug. They do so much, yet get so little glory. And we’re not even talking about smart plugs here.

Smart plugs are revolutionizing how we use various appliances in our homes. But most people are too busy thinking of smart devices and home hubs to pay them very much mind.

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