Mobile - Make Tech Easier

Best Hurricane Tracker Apps for Mobile

David Morelo — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 21:25:00 +0000

Hurricane season is here, and it’s time to ensure that you’re prepared. While stocking up on essentials and creating an evacuation plan is vital, staying informed about the storm’s path is equally important. This is where hurricane tracker apps come in. From real-time notifications to detailed maps, these apps bring the power of meteorological expertise to the palm of your hand. Keep this list handy, as it includes the best hurricane tracker apps for Android and iPhone.

Good to know: if you’re on an Android and facing danger, these are the apps to have in case of an emergency.

1. My Hurricane Tracker & Alerts

Price: Free with ads

Compatibility: iOS | Android

When a hurricane’s brewing, the last thing you want is to navigate a cluttered screen. That’s why our top pick, My Hurricane Tracker & Alerts, sports a clean interface with easy-to-understand tools for monitoring hurricanes, tornados, and more.

You can... Read more

10 Best Ways to Fix Unable to Install Apps Issue on iPhone

Mehvish Mushtaq — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 05:25:00 +0000

Are you wondering why your iPhone is not installing apps? There could be several reasons for this bug including a bad internet connection, or an issue with your Apple ID. Whatever the reason, here are the best solutions to fix the problem of being unable to install apps on iPhone from the App Store.

Tip: are you an iOS developer or an avid coder? Check out the 5 best coding apps for iOS to code on the move.

Preliminary Fixes

Restart iPhone: Try to restart your iPhone. Don’t worry, you will not delete any personal data after restarting.
Check App Store Service Status: The App Store may not be working due to server issues on Apple’s end. Thankfully, Apple has a system status page where you check the status of its services.
Check Date and Time: Correct date and time play an important role in downloading apps on iPhone. If your iPhone has an incorrect time, apps may not download from App Store. Open “Settings -> General -> Date & Time”. Then, enable... Read more

7 Ways to Recover Deleted Phone Numbers on Android

Crystal Crowder — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 21:25:00 +0000

Losing important phone numbers can be a real pain. Whether you’ve accidentally deleted them, or your Android phone crashed, and you were suddenly left without them, it’s always incredibly frustrating. Fortunately, you can recover them using your Google account or an additional method involving third-party software. This tutorial shows how to restore deleted contacts to your Android device.

Good to know: learn how to use your Android phone as a hotspot.

Retrieve Deleted Contacts Using the Google Contacts App

When it comes to recovering deleted phone numbers on Android, Google’s Contacts app is the most effective solution.

1. Restore from Trash

Google Contacts is preinstalled on most Android phones. If it’s not on your device, download it from the Google Play Store. The app stores your deleted contacts (in the Trash folder) for only 30 days before they’re deleted permanently. If you wish to recover a phone number that you deleted more than 30 days prior, you’ll need to use one of the other methods.

Note: phone numbers saved to... Read more

5 of the Best Radio Apps for iPhone

David Morelo — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 21:25:00 +0000

iPhones don’t have built-in FM radio receivers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t groove to your favorite radio stations. Thanks to many top-notch radio apps that transmit tunes over the internet, you can have FM radio at your fingertips. We’ve dialed in the frequency and tuned into the signal to bring you the five best FM radio apps for your iPhone. Let’s take a closer look!

Tip: you can stream much more content than just internet radio stations using your iPhone.

1. TuneIn Radio

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Compatibility: Requires iOS 14.0 or later

Offering over 100,000 AM, FM, and internet radio stations from 197 countries, TuneIn Radio has everything from CNN and FOX News for news junkies, to NFL and NHL for sports fans, to popular podcasts and audiobooks, to a vast selection of music channels for every mood. The app first appeared in the App Store in 2009, and it has since then been consistently hovering near the top of the “Music” category.

How to Turn Off Dark Mode on Google Maps on Android and iPhone

Mehvish Mushtaq — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 00:25:00 +0000

While many people absolutely love dark mode, there are some folks who prefer light mode over dark mode. This can be problematic in Google Maps, especially if you are driving. Thankfully, you can easily disable Dark Mode (aka night mode) on Google Maps. This tutorial shows how to turn off dark mode in Google Maps on Android, iPhone, and Android Auto.

Good to know: learn how to play music safely from Spotify via Google Maps and Waze.

How to Disable Dark Mode on Google Maps on iPhone

There are two methods to remove dark mode from Google Maps on iPhone.

1. Dark Mode Settings

If everything on your Google Maps app has turned dark, follow these steps to make Google Maps light again.

Open the Google Maps app on your iPhone.
Tap on your profile picture at the top, and select “Settings” from the menu.

6 Ways to Fix Your iPhone Flashlight Not Working

Sydney Butler — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 05:25:00 +0000

The simplest smartphone utilities, including your iPhone’s flashlight feature, can often fail to work properly in a pinch. Your trusty pocket torch suddenly fails to illuminate, and you find yourself fumbling in the dark. This guide provides the simple steps to troubleshoot and revive your iPhone flashlight when it’s not working.

1. Close the Camera App

Your iPhone’s flashlight is actually the same light used by your device’s rear-facing camera for flash photography. You can often run into a situation where the Camera app may be active in the background, preventing the flashlight from working properly. To fix this, force quit the iPhone Camera app from the app switcher:

Access the app switcher by swiping up from the bottom of the screen with one finger, then pausing. If your iPhone has a Home Button, double-click it to activate the app switcher.

Once you see your apps lined up like a deck of cards, swipe the Camera app out of the list by swiping upward on its app preview card. This force-quits the Camera app and may... Read more

How to Scan With iPhone

Mehvish Mushtaq — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:25:00 +0000

Tired of searching for the perfect PDF or QR scanner app? You will be glad to know that the iPhone has a built-in scanner that can be used to scan documents, text, and QR codes. You can scan a document using the Apples Notes, Files app, or even third-party apps on your iPhone. Let’s learn how to scan with iPhone!

Good to know: you can use the Live Text feature in the iPhone Camera app to quickly gather information from photos and videos.

Scan Documents With the Notes App

Document scanning remains one of the most useful features of the Apple Notes app. Here’s how to do it in a few easy steps.

In the “Notes” app on your iPhone, tap on the pencil and paper glyph at the bottom to create a new note.

In your note, press the camera icon that appears in the toolbar above the keyboard, and then select “Scan... Read more

The 7 Best Twitter Apps for Android

Ojash Yadav — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:25:00 +0000

Tired of using the default Twitter app and want some fresh and exciting alternatives? This list of the best Twitter apps for Android will revolutionize the way you use Twitter. Whether you’re looking for enhanced features, better customization options, or simply a more visually appealing interface, we have you covered. Get ready to take your Twitter game to the next level with these must-try apps!

Good to know: it’s now possible to organize tweeple into smaller groups with Twitter Lists.

1. Twitter Lite

Price: free

If you want your Twitter app to load faster and consume less space without compromising the basic functions of the app, then Twitter Lite is just the thing for you. With an app download size in KBs, Twitter Lite is not only space-friendly but also data-friendly.

As a result, it is a lot faster to load than the main app, even with low Internet speed. Additionally, its interface is almost identical to the main app,... Read more

9 Fixes for the iPhone Weather App Not Working

Mehvish Mushtaq — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 05:25:00 +0000

Is the Weather app or its respective widget not loading or updating data on your iPhone? It could be due to location services not being enabled, incorrect location settings, bugs within the app, or other issues. Let’s explore different ways to fix the iPhone Weather app or widget not working properly.

Quick Fixes

Before doing anything related to the Weather app itself, try these basic iPhone solutions to get it working again:

Restart Your iPhone: if weather data is not loading in the Weather app on your iPhone, begin troubleshooting by restarting your iPhone. If a simple reboot does not fix the issue, hard reset your iPhone. Don’t worry, as neither of these methods will delete personal data from your iPhone.
Check Apple Service Status: Apple has an official page that shows whether its services are working. You will see all the Apple services listed on the page. If a service is fine, it will be green; otherwise, there will be an error.

How to Turn Flashlight On and Off on Android

Alexandra Arici — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 15:25:00 +0000

The flashlight has long been a feature of phones, using the camera LED flash to help you navigate dark places. There’s a flashlight feature built into Android, but it takes a couple of swipes to get to it. Luckily, there are plenty of snappy ways to enable the flashlight faster on your Android phone – from shaking your phone to voice activation – and we’ve gathered them for you here.

Tip: Make your phone stand out with these beautiful Android live wallpaper apps.

Via Quick Settings

On the majority of phone models these days, you can access the flashlight via Quick Settings. This is perhaps the easiest method if you don’t want to install a third-party app.

Swipe down from the top to bring up the Quick Settings and press on the “Flashlight” tile to turn it on. Tap it again to turn it off.

If you can’t see the tile... Read more

8 of the Best Live Weather Wallpaper Apps for Android

Sayak Boral — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:25:00 +0000

Weather wallpaper apps on Android save you the trouble of stepping outside to know how hot, cold, rainy, or breezy it is. While you must use weather app widgets for more accuracy, a live weather wallpaper app has its own benefits. It blends picturesque landscapes and animations with actual weather data on the homescreen. Here we bring you the best live weather wallpaper apps for Android.

Do you know: Other than weather, there are also tons of beautiful live wallpapers you can install on your phone.

Choosing the Best Live Weather Wallpaper Apps

Our main criteria of selecting live weather wallpaper apps are that they should all blend very smoothly with your Android home screen and graphics. There can be a few intrusive ads, as long as they don’t interfere with the home screen. Even so, they can be resolved with a pro version. All these apps have been tried and tested for their claimed features and are rated very highly on Google Play.

How do you set a Live weather wallpaper app? Just download and install... Read more

Top 8 Procreate Alternatives for Android

Charlie Fripp — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 05:25:00 +0000

There are several apps artists can use to put their creative ideas onto a digital canvas. The popular among iOS and iPadOS users is Procreate. It has tons of functionality, offering anything a creator could need. But the most significant limitation is that it’s only available for Apple products. So, if you have an Android phone or tablet, you must look elsewhere. Luckily, there are a few excellent Procreate alternatives.

Good to know: Here are all the Apple Pencil essentials you need to know, including how to set it up, use it, and troubleshoot.

1. Sketchbook

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Just like Procreate, Sketchbook is a raster graphics software app. It has many of the same capabilities as Procreate, making it an excellent alternative if you want to start expressive drawing and some animation.

It has a variety of drawing tools, such as pencils, markers, and brushes and is compatible with pressure-sensitive pens and... Read more

Top 8 Android and iPhone Keyboards With a Number Row

Mehvish Mushtaq — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 05:25:00 +0000

To type numbers using the default keyboards on mobile devices, we usually have to hit ?123 (Android) or 123 (iPhone) to switch the layout. That’s a bit tedious, especially if you have to type numbers frequently. However, you can solve the problem by adding a number row at the top of popular Android and iPhone keyboards, like Gboard, Samsung Keyboard, SwiftKey, Chrooma, and Fleksy.

Good to know: get up to speed on how to view recently deleted apps on Android or iOS.

5 Keyboards for Android: How to Add Number Row

The following Android keyboards allow you to have a number row at the top. Follow these steps to enable the number row:

1. Gboard

The Gboard keyboard app comes preinstalled on most Android phones. Follow these steps to add a dedicated number row at the top of Gboard.

Launch Gboard in any app.
Tap on the “Settings” icon in the toolbar, or hit the three-dot icon, and tap on the “Settings” icon to open the... Read more

How to Use Your Phone as a Wi-Fi Hotspot

Alexandra Arici — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 21:25:00 +0000

Long gone are the days when we needed to scour the App Store and Play Store in search of dubious third-party apps that let us turn our iPhones and Androids into Wi-Fi hotspots. The process is a whole lot simpler these days, thanks to both Apple and Google baking Wi-Fi hotspot support into their respective operating systems. This tutorial shows how to turn your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot and let devices all around use your phone’s mobile data connection.

Good to know: learn how to set a metered Wi-Fi connection on Android for better control over your data usage.

A Word of Caution

Hotspots are a fantastic way to get your computer, tablet, and other devices to take advantage of your iPhone’s or Android’s Internet. Be careful, though, as your computer, tablet, or other devices may be set to automatically download updates when connected to Wi-Fi (Windows in particular) and could quickly destroy your data allowance. But you can always opt to stop Windows updates and eliminate that worry from your mind.

How to Use... Read more

10 of the Best Android Emulators for Your Desktop

Farhad Pashaei — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 10:25:00 +0000

Are you a desktop user with a yearning to play some Android games or test out an Android-only app? With Android emulators, you don’t have to switch between your desktop OS and Android. By installing an emulator on your Mac, Linux, or Windows desktop, you can run all the latest Android games and Android-exclusives on a larger screen. Emulators can also be useful if you’re building your own mobile app and want to test the user experience on Android.

1. Bluestacks

Price: Free (Premium subscription)

Compatibility: Windows & macOS

Bluestacks is one of the most popular Android emulators for Windows and is probably the best Android emulator for macOS as well. This emulator is built primarily for mobile gamers and claims to provide a “PC-like” gaming experience for your mobile apps.

Bluestacks has full support for the keyboard and mouse and comes with a set of recommended preset controls that are also fully customizable. If you create custom controls, BlueStacks lets you easily export these settings to share them with your fellow gamers.

15 Android Widgets to Make Your Home Screen Better

Crystal Crowder — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 05:25:00 +0000

Want to get more from your Android home screen? Just add a few highly useful Android widgets. From weather to education, there’s a widget for almost anything. Plus, it’ll save you a few taps, giving you the info you need immediately.

Good to know: trying to detach from your digital habits? Learn how to control your screen time on Android and live a healthier lifestyle.

1. 1Weather – Best Weather Widget

Price: Free / In-app purchases

1Weather is one of numerous available Android weather apps, but its impressive array of widget options makes it the best option for seeing weather conditions on your home screen. Whether you just want to see the current temperature or go all out to see the weather for the week ahead, there’s a widget for that.

We love that the app lets you customize each widget. Choose the accent color, size, opacity, background type, and more. If you’re following multiple locations, select the location you... Read more

6 of the Best Note Taking Apps for Android

Megan Glosson — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 21:25:00 +0000

Smartphones are a great way to take notes. They’re always in your pocket, can be brought up in a flash, and store notes indefinitely. Of course, you don’t want just any note taking apps – you deserve only the best Android has to offer, like these six options.

Also Helpful: need an app to take notes on your iPhone? Check out these top iOS note taking apps.

1. Best Overall: Evernote

Price: Free / starting at $10.83 per month

Evernote is one of the most famous note taking apps and has been around for years. It’s a cloud-based application by default and works very well cross-platform. It also comes with a great selection of features, and a variety of integrations.

With Evernote, you can create notes, task lists, sketches, or audio files. You can also upload images or attachments to the cloud, save web clips, or share your notes with other users to coordinate ideas. Evernote lets you organize your data into notebooks or use tags to make finding notes with related content easier. You can... Read more

11 Beautiful Android Live Wallpapers to Make Your Phone Stand Out

Alexandra Arici — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 05:25:00 +0000

Android live wallpapers are exciting, eye-catching, and a conversation starter. These often feature animations or a looping video displayed on your home screen. In addition, some live wallpapers are interactive, responding to your touch. Live wallpapers aren’t new, as they stretch all the way back to Android 2.1 Eclair. Android has come a long way since then, and live wallpapers have evolved to be more complex and more efficient. We’ve gathered some of the best live wallpaper apps in this list.

Good to know: learn how to create custom app icons to make your Android stand out even more.

1. Cartogram

Price: Free

Cartogram allows users to transform their device’s screen into an interactive and visually stunning map experience. Live wallpapers created using the app incorporate real-time maps that showcase the user’s location and move as the person moves around in the environment. Alternatively, the app offers a “Random” option that shuffles live wallpapers featuring locations from around the world.

How to Use Samsung Wallet to Manage Passwords and More

Sayak Boral — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 05:25:00 +0000

Samsung Wallet is a universal app that carries all your personal essentials on a single Android phone. It is exclusive to Samsung Galaxy owners and available in a select few countries at the moment. The following guide shows how to use Samsung Wallet to manage your passwords and more.

Good to know: wondering what’s the difference between Samsung and Android? We highlight them all in our dedicated post.

What Is Samsung Wallet?

First launched in June 2022, the Samsung Wallet app is designed for exclusive use on Samsung Galaxy’s One UI interface and works on compatible Samsung Galaxy devices from Android 9.0 and later.

The Samsung Wallet app is highly customizable, and region-specific. The availability of many of its features varies from one country to another as Samsung’s ecosystem partners change internationally. It’s currently available in:

Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Korea (South), Kuwait, Malaysia, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UAE, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam.

Samsung Pay 101: How to Pay With Your Phone

Mehvish Mushtaq — Wed, 31 May 2023 05:25:00 +0000

Android devices have the Google Pay service to facilitate paying with your phone, whereas iPhone has Apple Pay. On Samsung Galaxy phones, you get Samsung Pay too. What is Samsung Pay and how to use it to pay from your phone? Find the answer in this post.

Good to know: not sure whether Samsung Galaxy phones actually run Android? The answer is yes, but here are the differences.

What Is Samsung Pay

Samsung Pay is a contactless mobile payment system built right on your Samsung Galaxy phone or smartwatch. With Samsung Pay, you can pay at retail stores around the world with your Samsung phone using the credit or debit card details stored on it.

Samsung Pay is like a digital wallet where your phone acts as your card that you need to hold against the card machine to make payment at any merchant store. On top of credit and debit cards, Samsung Pay also lets you save gift, and membership cards on your phone. Earlier Samsung Pay was a separate app but now Samsung Pay and... Read more