Android

How To: Enable Bitmoji Integration in Gboard & Share Personalized Reactions Faster

Bitmoji are personalized emoji that look like you and can be used to make funny memes or snappy replies. Normally, you have to find one of these reaction emojis in the Bitmoji app, then use Android's share menu to send it to the app where you ultimately want to post it, but there's a much better way.

How To: Enable Dark Mode in the Google Feed on Android

The Google Feed is a great source for relevant news articles from your search history, package delivery updates, and much more. Now known as the "Discover" page, many Android users turn to this useful menu on a daily basis. However, as Google recently pointed out, the all-white theme is not ideal for battery life, nor is it easy on the eyes at night.

How To: Scan QR Codes in Your Pixel's Camera App

QR codes have become a staple in our everyday lives. Companies use them for everything from marketing promotions to movie tickets thanks to security they provided for these types of transactions. But for years, Android users had to download an app to scan these codes. Well, not anymore.

How To: Enable Dark Mode in Google Play Games

While we wait patiently for a system-wide dark theme, Google has provided us with the next best thing. The majority of Google-developed apps now have a dark mode, so you can piecemeal the feature together yourself.

How To: Enable Dark Mode in Android Messages

Recently, Google's Messages app has become an important cog in the Android ecosystem. That's because, for the time being, it's one of the only texting apps which supports RCS Universal Profile for iMessage-style conversations. Even better, Google just gave it a highly sought-after feature: dark mode.

How To: 15 Tips to Help You Get the Most Out of Samsung Health

Samsung Health has become one of the most comprehensive wellness apps thanks to features that cover everything from step counting to nutrition logging and symptom diagnosis. But because the app has so much to offer, it can be easy to overlook some smaller, but useful features.

News: All the Phones That Work on T-Mobile's 600 MHz Band 71 Network

To combat their poor coverage in rural areas, T-Mobile spent nearly $8 billion on 600 MHz spectrum in 2017, which was converted to LTE Band 71. With such a low frequency, the signal can travel further, providing LTE speeds to more Americans. But your phone also has to support this frequency, and so far, only a handful do.

How To: Block Notifications While You're Using the Camera on Your Android Phone

Imagine this: you have your finger poised to take the perfect picture — a once in a lifetime opportunity, like a solar eclipse — and you are suddenly caught off guard by a buzz, then "ding!" You look down at your phone to find your perfect pic ruined by distortion from the vibration, all because of an ill-timed notification. It's enough to make you crazy, especially when you find out it could have been prevented.

News: The Pixel 3 XL Lite Is Shaping Up to Be the Best Google Phone This Year

Unlike past Pixel releases, it appears Google isn't done with their current lineup. Rumors have it that Google plans to put out two new phones that act as budget variants for their existing devices. And based on the leaks, it looks like one of these variants might be better than its non-budget counterpart.

How To: Activate the Hidden Dark Mode in Facebook Messenger

Facebook is working on a dark mode for Messenger, and it's a true AMOLED black theme. It's hidden away right now, but most of the code is there, ready and waiting to be enabled. By sending one command with root access, you can activate this feature right now.

How To: Enable Dark Mode in the Google Phone App

With more and more phones using OLED displays, the need for dark mode is at the highest it's ever been. Since dark backgrounds reduce battery consumption on these displays, the Android community has been begging Google to include a system-wide dark mode. Instead, Google gave us dark mode for many of their apps, including the Phone app.

How To: Hide the VPN Icon in Your Status Bar on Android — No Root Needed

Depending on how you use your phone, you may have noticed your status bar is a bit crowded due to various icons being enabled. While some icons make sense to have, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the VPN key icon can be redundant, especially if the app uses a notification. Good thing, there is a way to get rid of the icon.

News: Always-Updated List of Carriers That Support RCS Universal Profile

In November 2016, the RCS Universal Profile (Rich Communications Services) was introduced. The technology takes text messaging to the 21st century, emulating many of the features found in IM apps like WhatsApp and iMessage, but working through your phone number like regular SMS or MMS. The only thing is, your carrier needs to support RCS-UP to use the feature, but thankfully, the list is growing.

How To: Enable Dark Mode in Google's Contacts App for Android

With the rise of OLED displays, Android users have been begging Google for a true system-wide dark mode for years. While a system-wide solution is still somewhat unlikely, Google has given in by providing a dark mode for certain apps, including Contacts.

How To: Record Your Sleep Patterns with Samsung Health — No Wearables Needed

The quality and length of your sleep will almost always dictate how the rest of your day unfolds. Sleeping fewer hours increases your chances of spending the day in a tired and cranky state, while having a restful night's sleep contributes greatly to being alert and productive. Luckily, if you want to track your sleep patterns to figure out how you can improve your circadian rhythm, Samsung Health has you covered.

How To: Get Google's Avengers AR Sticker Packs on Any Android Device with ARCore

The idea of augmented reality isn't new, but the world of smartphones is looking to push it forward in a big way. As with any platform, both product demand and technological advancements have to catch up to the industry before it can become a viable solution for daily consumer life. Apple and Google are working to introduce the smartphone consumer to AR for the first time with basic features for now.

How To: Like Tabs? Put a Tab in Your Tab with Chrome's New Sneak Peek Feature on Android

If you ever looked at Apple's Peek and Pop feature on Safari and said "I want that," Google has kinda-sorta delivered. A new hidden Chrome feature brings similar functionality to Android despite the lack of 3D Touch, and while it's a bit redundant and nowhere near as polished, it does make navigating the web easier.

How To: Get Dolby Atmos on Your OnePlus 6T for Enhanced Audio

The OnePlus 6T is easily one of 2018's best value phones for many reasons, especially when it comes to rooting and modding. But like many new phones, it's plagued with the single bottom-firing speaker that left us wanting more in the sound department. The speaker is decent on its own, but it appears to have some hidden potential at the same time.

How To: Create Folders in Your App Drawer with Action Launcher

According to App Annie, the average person's phone contains 60–90 apps. Such a large amount can easily crowd an app drawer, especially since the same source states that only about 30 are used in a month. Having a way to organize apps in the app drawer can help you avoid wasting time searching.

How To: Use Quickdrawer & Google Now at the Same Time in Action Launcher

As highlighted in our article on how to enable Google Now in Action Launcher, doing so takes away the Quickdrawer. This effectively ruins one of the more beneficial features of Action Launcher, making it a tough choice between the two options. So I looked for a solution and found one that works.

How To: Enable Google Now Integration in Action Launcher

One of the most useful features of the Pixel Launcher is access to the Google Discover page. Initially, this feature was exclusive to Google's launchers, forcing users to give up the customization of apps like Action Launcher if they wanted the quick access to relevant news and updates it provided. Fortunately, this is no longer the case.

How To: Use Samsung Health to Diagnose Symptoms from the Privacy of Your Phone

You really can't go wrong with Samsung Health when it comes to staying on top of fitness-related data. Its features help you keep track of workouts, track calorie and nutrition intake, and monitor your heart rate, just to name a few. And if you start exhibiting symptoms you've never had before, you can even use the app to find out more about what's wrong with you.

How To: Start a Fitness Competition Among Friends with Samsung Health

When you're trying to get fit, friendly competition can go a long way towards keeping you motivated. Samsung Health has a great feature for just that, letting you challenge your friends or even complete strangers to bring some excitement to an otherwise routine workout experience.

How To: Track Your Workouts with Samsung Health

Keeping track of your physical activities can be difficult, especially if you have a hectic lifestyle with responsibilities to constantly stay on top of. Thankfully, Samsung Health is there to help you log your workout routines, leaving you with one less thing to keep track of as you go about your busy day.

How To: Change Your Step Count Goal in Samsung Health

Once known as S Health, Samsung Health has become one of the most comprehensive health apps available for Android. In fact, we all can benefit from the features the app brings to the table — whether you're a marathon runner or a couch potato. If you're in the latter category, the app has a simple feature that can nudge you towards becoming more active.

How To: Unbrick Your OnePlus 6T When All Else Fails

When flashing files through TWRP, ADB, or Fastboot, there is a slight potential for things to go wrong. Whether it's user error or something on the developer side that wasn't quite right with the file you tried to install, you could be facing some real problems with your device. In most cases, you will be dealing with a semi-brick or soft-brick, which can usually be solved by wiping the data of the device using TWRP, but other times it's more severe than that.

How To: Count Calories & Log Nutrition with Samsung Health

The most essential part of a healthy lifestyle is managing your diet — after all, what would be the point of a daily workout regimen if you were eating junk food? Thankfully, Samsung Health makes it easy to record your calorie and nutrient intake to get a clear picture of your dietary habits and how you can make them better.

News: Samsung's One UI Update Makes Internet Browsing Way Better at Night

One of the headlining features in Samsung's One UI update is a new dark mode that turns stock apps and system menus black. But something you may have missed is what this theme does to the Samsung Internet app and all the websites you visit.

How To: Get Google's Digital Wellbeing Feature on Any Android Device

Living in this age of smartphones and always being connected can sometimes have us getting carried away with our devices. Whether it's an addiction to our phone or if we just feel like cutting back on some daily screen time, there's a great tool that can help with that — Google's official Digital Wellbeing app puts you in control by laying out all the stats you need to help curb your daily smartphone habits.

2018 Gift Guide: The Best Android Accessories to Buy for the Techy Person in Your Life

Need a unique gift idea for the techy person in your life? Look no further than that phone they always have in their hand. There are plenty of great accessories, apps, subscriptions, and other smartphone-related goodies that will improve their quality of life, and thoughtful gifts like that are always the best-received.

How To: Root Apps Not Working with Magisk? Here's What to Do

It's the icing on top of your cake (or whipped cream on top of your Android Pie) of despair. You may have not had the easiest time rooting your device, but you feel like you overcame all of the obstacles. Only now to discover that those very apps and mods you were rooting for still won't work — and the signs point to a lack of root access. Don't lose hope, because we have some tricks up our sleeve.

How To: Automatically Download New Netflix Episodes on Your Phone

One of the most convenient features in the Netflix app is the ability to download movies and TV shows to your device, skirting any streaming issues, even with the most temperamental of internet connections. Going a step further, Netflix allows you to automatically download new episodes of your favorite TV shows once you've finished the ones already stored on the device.

How To: Install the ElementalX Custom Kernel on Your OnePlus 6T

After you unlock the bootloader, install TWRP custom recovery, and flash Magisk to gain root access, what might be the next step of your modding adventure? A custom kernel, of course! Flashing a custom kernel onto your device gives you a whole new level of tweaks and customizations, and it allows you to have full control over how your system performs.

How To: The Best 'Fast Pair' Bluetooth Headphones for Your Android Device

In 2017, Google introduced a new feature called Fast Pair. This made discovering and pairing Bluetooth devices completely stress-free, as it eliminated the need to fumble through settings. Google has now made it even easier, so Fast Pair is a must-have feature for your next headphones.

News: What Huawei's Rumored Mobile OS Means for the US Market

Huawei has been in a losing battle with the US government for around ten years, with the last year being the spike of Huawei's problems. Because of US pushback against some Chinese-based smartphone manufacturers due to security concerns, Huawei is hoping to limit its dependency on US-based companies, and recent rumors of Huawei's very own mobile operating system may be the first step.

Samsung One UI Update: Settings Gets a Massive Redesign on Galaxy Devices

The Android Pie beta program is finally out for select Galaxy devices in the guise of One UI. Of course, we've known about this for some time, thanks in large part to leaked beta versions of the software for the S9 and S9+. This doesn't temper our excitement towards the update, however, as we get a glimpse of what Samsung has in store for its devices moving forward.

News: Everything You Need to Know About the Google Pixel 3 Lite

After a lackluster reception, it appears Google isn't done with phone releases. A little over a month after the Pixel 3 and 3 XL released, we heard rumblings of two budget versions of the Pixel lineup. The devices will be known as Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3 XL Lite, and based on rumors, might be the first budget Pixels.

News: Everything We Know About the Sony Xperia XZ4 So Far

Though not famous as the iPhone and Galaxy, Sony's Xperia line of devices have become the mainstay of many Android aficionados. And with the introduction of the XZ2, the famous company ditched the familiar, blocky design that its smartphones were known for, in favor a sleek, curvier appearance. This same design element has carried over to the XZ3, and will likely continue on with the upcoming XZ4.

How To: Root Your OnePlus 6T with Magisk

With the recent launch of the OnePlus 6T, the company continues to impress us with some of the best phones when it comes to the rooting and modding. OnePlus has made it easy enough to get up and running with the rooting process as fast as possible. The OnePlus devices follow the same core principles Google uses for their Pixels, which is excellent news for both the user and the development side of things.

How To: Install TWRP Recovery on Your OnePlus 6T

If you have ever wanted to mod your Android device, your new best friend is easily going to be Team Win's TWRP custom recovery. This gives you access to file flashing on the fly, which can include such things as Magisk for root access, or even a custom ROM to replace the stock firmware that came with the device.