“Alexa, who plays [character] in [movie or show]?” That phrase, which you can say to any smart assistant, just solved your next three TV-related fights.
Unlock your iPhone's full potential: 12 must-know tips
Fun fact: When you set up your iPhone, invisible dots create a detailed map of your face so you can open your phone by looking at it. How many dots are used to map a face? Quiz your friends and family over the holidays. The answer is 30,000. Whoa.
There’s so much built into our smartphones. I’ve been on Team iPhone since the first model, and I’m still discovering new things. No matter your model, I bet there are hidden features you’ll be happy to know.
Hidden gem iPhone tools
Find a little peace: White noise is great for getting things done, falling asleep or drowning out more annoying sounds. You don’t need an extra app. Open Settings and tap Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Background Sounds. On the next screen, enable “Background Sounds” and tap Sound. Choose between Ocean, Rain, Stream and more. Ahhhhh.
No more clutter: You can take photos through the Notes app on your iPhone so they don’t appear in your camera roll. Go to Settings > Notes, then turn off “Save to Photos.” Now, open the Notes app. Create a new note and tap the camera icon > Take Photo or Video.
Quick privacy checkup: The App Privacy Report shows how apps use your data. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > App Privacy Report to access. You can revoke any permissions here if you see something you don’t like.
G’day mate: You can change your smart assistant’s voice if its dulcet tones get on your nerves. I like the Australian woman’s voice. On iPhone: Go to Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Voice. For Android: On most phones that use Google Assistant, say, “Hey Google, open Assistant settings.” Go to All settings > Assistant voice and choose one.
For teeny-tiny print: Open the Magnifier tool and use the slider to zoom in on things. Get to the Magnifier quicker by triple-clicking the side button on your iPhone, and voila! Your camera becomes a magnifying glass. I used this to see my router’s model number.
Two thumbs-up: Typing with thumbs at the bottom of a screen is so much easier that Amazon redid its shopping app to move the search bar there. Chrome for iPhone is doing the same. Hold down a URL and you’ll see Move Address Bar to Bottom/Top. Cool, right?
Update bug: The upgrade to iOS 17 reset some users’ privacy settings. If you’ve ever deactivated Significant Locations on your iPhone, the update may have turned it back on. Review the steps now to make sure it’s off if you prefer it that way.
If you don’t text back: Like with email, you can mark a text as unread, making it easier to remember to respond. On iPhone, simply swipe right on a conversation to mark it as unread.
Powering down: This one is for the iPhone 15 only. Open Settings > Battery, and you can see when to replace your battery. You must get deep into your phone’s analytics to do that on an older model.
Your smart assistant is listening, but does that impact the ads you see?
Think of everything you do online and in real life that says something about who you are. Your likes, clicks, hobbies and activities all add to the wealth of data points companies already have on you.
What about your conversations with Alexa or Siri? How is that data used? Let’s take a deep look at how they use your conversations to create profiles.
How Siri and Amazon Echo can help make the perfect turkey
You have enough on your plate this Thanksgiving. Let your smart assistant do some of the dirty work.
🤖 AI comes to Alexa Intelligence: But it’s going to cost you up to $10 a month. Amazon is updating its smart assistant with an AI-powered Remarkable Alexa. The paid version will do a few fun tricks like handling emails and ordering food from Uber Eats. When Alexa can do the laundry, I’ll be impressed.
10 iPhone tricks I use every day, and you will, too
Your phone can do more than you realize, but no one points out the countless hidden settings and features when you buy it. Sometimes, you realize you don’t know how to do something simple until you need it. Tap or click for steps to record your iPhone screen.
5 clever ways to use your Echo and Alexa that you’ll wish you knew sooner
When cooking, it’s easy to say, “Alexa, remind me the cauliflower pizza is done in 15 minutes.” That’s one of the most useful and basic ways to use the Amazon-owned smart assistant.
The downside is that it can pick up conversations we’d rather it didn’t. Tap or click for steps to listen to and erase any errant recordings. I do this regularly. That’s not the only vital privacy step if you have an Echo or more at home. Tap or click here to ensure your smart speakers are locked down correctly.
📧 AI coming to Gmail inboxes: Soon, a “smart assistant” will summarize email threads and suggest responses. A Q&A tool (powered by Gemini) will dig through your emails to answer questions like, “I got three bids for a new roof. Which one is the best?” Once it’s live for everyone, I’ll show you how to use it.
Study: Most Americans believe they’re being tracked
Using an app exposes you to tracking, but it’s particularly dangerous with certain ones. TikTok has been banned from government and military devices in the U.S., and there’s been a push for its Chinese owners to sell their shares in the company. And that’s not all. Watch out for these other Chinese apps.
Think your phone is always listening? You're not alone
Is your phone secretly listening to you? Over the last decade, the notion has become a part of American culture. But how legitimate is this belief? Weirdly specific ads, smart assistant surveillance and plain old paranoia may all influence your relationship with technology.
5 Siri Valentine's Day tips they'll never forget
If you’re on #TeamiPhone, you’re probably a Siri fan. We know we are. With Valentine’s Day coming up, we’re here with five top Siri tips that can help you make this year one to remember.
Read on for some fun ways to incorporate Siri into Valentine’s Day.
3 genius ways you're not using your Amazon Alexa
Who says Alexa is only helpful on your kitchen counter? She’s a smart cookie, and chances are, there’s more you could be doing with her.
Did you know that Alexa can improve home security and check in on elderly relatives? Tap or click here for five clever ways to use your Echo and Alexa.
Shut up your Echo Show with a wave
Does your smart assistant never know when to shut up? You’ll love this new accessibility feature. Here’s how it works, in 60 seconds.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How to add emojis using your voice with Siri and Google Assistant
Although voice dictation technology lets you send hands-free text messages, it has glaring shortcomings. For example, smart assistants often have trouble understanding you.
That means you’ll have to constantly repeat yourself when the AI doesn’t get what you’re saying. Here are five ways to make your smart assistant understand you better. Here’s another pain point: Smart assistants not sending emojis when you tell them to.
Make your smart assistants remind you of things
Do you have trouble remembering your holiday chores? Listen to this one-minute podcast to set reminders ahead of time. After this episode, you can turn your smart assistant into your secretary!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ridiculous funny questions to ask Siri
Want to have some fun with your smart assistant? Listen to this one-minute podcast for the best tricky questions you should ask Siri.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Check if you have a faulty airbag - And earn $50 to get it replaced
When a product is defective, manufacturers often issue a recall. This could be voluntary or government-mandated. The issues can be minor or downright dangerous and affect a few thousand or millions of units.
Recalls are common in the automotive industry. With so many vehicles leaving assembly lines worldwide, there are bound to be issues. Volkswagen issued a recall this year for 250,000 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs due to the potential for their brakes to engage unexpectedly. Tap or click here for our report.
Helpful secret phrases you can say to Siri or Google Assistant
Communication can be challenging at the best of times, but it’s especially rough when speaking with a robot. Frequently, Alexa will spout off, “Sorry, I don’t know that one,” or Siri will say, “I’m not sure I understand.” Tap or click here to get Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant to understand you better.
True or false: It's illegal to talk to your phone's smart assistant while driving
Smart assistants can be used with smartphones, tablets, computers and smart devices to make life easier. You can turn the lights on, set a reminder to get the groceries, recommend a restaurant, play your favorite music and set the mood to watch a movie. The possibilities are truly endless.
Best smart LED lights for the money
I’m new to the smart light revolution, and I’m not turning back. Let me explain. I lived in my last home for 17 years, and while it needed upgrades throughout, the lights were the least of my worries.
Moving into a new place, I had to either hire an electrician to install the kitchen’s under-counter lights or try to do it myself with smart lights. I opted for saving money and getting my tech hands dirty.