Clearing the cache on your computer is (usually) a quick and easy way to help speed it up. Deleting those temporary files frees up space, helping you computer run smoother, especially if you have not cleared the cache for a extended period. However, finding the different cache ...more
FaceTime has been around since iOS 4, and year after year, things stayed pretty much the same aside from a few small changes. In iOS 6, calls over cellular networks were finally possible, and audio-only calls were officially supported starting in iOS 7. But the one feature mos ...more
Your iPhone is going to get a few significant improvements with the iOS 17.5 software update, but my favorite is Apple's enhancements to the Apple News app, which is making its Puzzles section even more fun with Game Center integration and even a new type of word puzzle. On i ...more
While you can use Google Assistant on your Android phone to identify songs playing around you, you may still prefer Shazam's music recognition service, which has been available on Android since 2008 — a full nine years before Google Assistant's audio-fingerprinting technology. ...more
When you hear people say the iPhone "just works," it's because of all the finishing touches Apple adds to iOS. A perfect example of this is the new QR-scanning feature in iOS 12 — by tapping a single button in the iPhone's Control Center, you can scan a QR code within seconds. ...more
Oftentimes, seemingly insignificant, nondescript features have the most impact on enhancing our Android's usability. A great example is Nougat's inclusion of customizable Quick Settings tiles, which adds greatly to the user experience by letting individuals tailor their expand ...more
One of Android's biggest strengths is its flexibility. There's usually more than one way to perform the same task, which makes it easy to find an alternate method that works better for you. Android also has some hidden features that newer users might not be aware of, so we mad ...more
After several Android phones started incorporating the iPhone X's notch, the online community was vocal, with many expressing hatred for the trend. Well, thanks to XDA Forum Moderator Zacharee1, we already have an app to undo the incoming wave of notches. As we wait for the a ...more
The biggest new feature in Android 10 is the system-wide dark mode. Both Samsung and Google phones have it, so third-party support is everywhere. The only problem is OnePlus forgot to include a way to quickly toggle dark mode on and off. You'd have to imagine a dark mode togg ...more
After exiting the mobile market, Microsoft has redirected its efforts to better integrating their services with Android. Thanks to a partnership with Samsung, that Windows integration is even better if you have a Galaxy phone. Select Samsung devices can now be mirrored onto a ...more
Apple's next software update, iOS 17.5, is relatively minor. Still, it includes one killer new feature for people who like word games: another lexical challenge to complement the crossword puzzles that Apple News already has. Apple introduced its new Puzzles section to the Ap ...more
Whoa. Someone just got caught this weekend cheating at the 2012 National Scrabble Championship in Florida. He was holding on to some blank tiles, which dropped on the floor mid-game. How did this kid even think he'd get away with hiding blank tiles? Wouldn't it be a little sus ...more
Downloading third-party screen recording apps can be dangerous. The primary function of these apps is being able to record everything on one's display, so it's easy to see how a malicious developer could exploit this for their own gain. That's why the addition of Android 10's ...more
Sometimes we need to share screenshots, but don't want to reveal the entire screen. This usually requires some editing that isn't typically easy to do on a smartphone. BlackBerry recognized this issue and created a tool called Redactor that makes it easy to hide your data befo ...more
Creative thoughts are fleeting, so when an idea strikes, you have to jot it down as quickly as possible or risk forgetting it altogether. Let's say you randomly think of a perfect tweet while you're using your phone. You exit whatever app you were using, head to the home scree ...more
You know what ladies love? A man who can handle his tools. What do the ladies love even more? A man who can say checkmate. Well, except maybe this lady. But, what about those of us lacking grandmaster status? We can use those tools were so good with to show off our intelligen ...more
Android's Quick Settings menu is quite handy—just swipe down with two fingers from the top of your screen and you're ready to toggle several different system settings on or off. It got even better with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, since you can even use the hidden System UI Tuner ...more
With all the high-tech wizardry available on modern smartphones, the low-key most practical tool is arguably the flashlight. If you own a Google Pixel model, it's finally easier to turn the flashlight on and off from anywhere. On Android 12, you can swipe down from the top of ...more
Ever since Microsoft sunset Windows Phone, they've been working with Android to tap into the growing mobile device market. The tech giant has uploaded over 80 apps to the Play Store for any Android user to download, but some features Samsung has hoarded for themselves. Most o ...more
Making pizza at home is fun and easy—until you get your creation into the oven. Then all of a sudden, your crust gets soggy and your toppings ooze off into one big mess. A home oven just can't cook a pizza the same way as a professional one built specifically for pizzas. But ...more
The desktop Start menu is finally back! After receiving a lot of negative user feedback, Microsoft ditched the touchscreen-first approach of Windows 8 and went with a more traditional setup for mouse-and-keyboard users in Windows 10. Don't Miss: How Anyone (Even Pirates) Can ...more
Sometimes it's the smallest feature in your smartphone that makes the biggest difference in user experience. Take screen timeout, for instance. You can probably think of plenty of times when your handset's display blacked out while you were in the middle of something. You coul ...more
One of the most exciting features in iOS 11 was the fully revamped Control Center, which improved the overall interface visually, made it one page only, and finally made it possible to customize what controls actually appear within it. Customizable controls was previously only ...more
Windows 10 is officially here, and frankly, there's a ton of new features in Microsoft's latest operating system. From the return of the Start menu to the new Edge browser, Windows 10 can take some getting used to. Luckily, we've done a lot of the leg work for you, and what f ...more
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. ...more
Android 11 is here. Prior to Google dropping the naming scheme, this would have been a dessert with an R name (maybe Rice Krispies Treat or Red Velvet Cake) — but nope, just plain ol' Android 11. And after months of betas and a global pandemic, it finally debuted a little over ...more
There's nothing in this life that we love more than making one ingredient or one food tool do multiple things. It saves money! It saves time! It makes us look smart at cocktail parties! Without further ado, here are several ways to save money, waste less food, and make the mo ...more
Since Apple launched iOS 13, we've seen four major updates for iPhone, each of which added some cool new features. Between iOS 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, and all the minor updates in between, there's never been a better time to be on iOS. And now, we've got even more positive cha ...more
You've just picked up your new Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, or S20 Ultra — but wait. After you turn it on and restore your data, there a few apps you should install to get the most out of your updated phone. Installing these eight apps right away will help maximize your experienc ...more
Apple released iOS 17.4 on March 5 with over 30 new features, but now it's iOS 17.5's turn for the spotlight. The update, currently available as a release candidate, gives us a few interesting updates and changes for iPhone, including a new word game, and there's even a sneak ...more
I've been an iPhone user in the iOS ecosystem for years now after a brief stint in the Android realm. But, I'm also enthusiastic about varying forms of technology in general; I realize that iOS is far from perfect and that healthy market competition is beneficial for all. So, ...more
This year's big iPhone update, iOS 12, aims to solve many of the issues that arose during iOS 11's controversial, buggy tenure. With that in mind, it may be tempting to jump on board the new software immediately and leave iOS 11 in the dust for good. Here are some reasons why ...more
Many people don't realize much better audio can sound on their phones. While it's solid to begin with, Samsung has included several options in the Galaxy Note 10+ that will upgrade your listening experience to profound status. While sound quality is somewhat subjective, there ...more
Every year, Apple adds some old technology to the iPhone and gives it a catchy marketing name, then like clockwork, it becomes the next big thing. Google, on the other hand, creates some truly innovative features, doesn't really bother naming them, then lets them languish in o ...more
Make your own personalized coasters using Scrabble tiles! You design them, so they can say anything you want them to! Pick a theme and make a set or make each coaster completely different from the rest. What You'll Need Scrabble tiles Glue gun Squares of wood or cork (about ...more
Gather Supplies Ready to make the best Scrabble tile pendant possible? This easy tutorial will show you how to make your own custom necklace out of a Scrabble® tile. It will take about 1 hour of work, but there is time needed to let the pendant dry and cure. Ready to start? ...more
If you want to change the look of a bathroom, giving yourself a brand new tile floor is a quick and fun way to go about it. It's also easy — that is, provided you can assemble all the necessary tools and materials: You'll need grout, cement board, cement board screws and tile ...more
Learn how to tile over a concrete patio; watch a video demonstrating conversion of a dreary concrete slab into a beautiful tile patio. Make a tile patio. Click through to watch this video on ronhazelton.com
Learn how to tile over a plastic laminate countertop; watch a video demonstrating the use of the thin-skin system to bond tile to plastic laminate. Tile over laminate countertop. Click through to watch this video on ronhazelton.com
If you have just recently moved into a home with an old drab fireplace, a good makeover may be in need. Brick fireplaces can be easily painted over and even adjusted so new tile can be installed. This tutorial will show you how to make over a fireplace using tile and a mantle. ...more
If you have an old bathroom with vinyl flooring installed, it may be time to upgrade your floors. Although vinyl is sturdy, it can look cheap and possibly bring down the value of your home. This tutorial will give you the advice needed to replace your old bathroom floor with n ...more
Sometimes, it can be a pain to remove an countertops made of material such as wood and laminate. So an easy to do option would just let it be. If you're looking to add ceramic tile, you can easily do that over your existing countertops. This video will show you how for a quick ...more
This clip will walk you through how to create a procedural tile material in 3D Studio Max. It also covers composite materials, masks and noises. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the ...more
How to create a seamless tile image to use as a desktop wallpaper or webpage background using Adobe Photoshop.
Playing with pixels design with the tiles of the restaurant.. Just follow my layout and you can get your OWN SUPER MARIO!! Isn't it cool? Restaurant City is a Facebook game that allows you to create your own restaurant. Description of the app on Facebook: In Restaurant City ...more
This how-to video explains how to use a tile file to remove a sharp edge from a piece of tile. To being you just need to buy a tile file (or a couple if you plan to use it a lot). A tile file would be used if a piece of tile has a sharp edge that you cannot hide in a corner or ...more
In this short video, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows you how to cut ceramic tile using nippers. Nippers are good for cutting tile in an arc or for cutting irregular tile. Using them, you can trim your tile to the precise dimensions you need for your floor.
Remodeling your home and patio can be expensive, but you can save some money by doing it yourself. If you are re-doing your backyard you can set the tile yourself. In this Home & Garden how-to video you will learn how to set tile on an outside patio with tile spacers.
Learn how to make tile mosaics with tips such as how to plan the mosaic pattern and cut the tile in this free video series. Part 1 of 15 - How to Make tile mosaics & patterns. Make tile mosaics & patterns - Part 2 of 15. Click through to watch this video on expertvillage.com M ...more
This video will show you how to drill a clean hole in ceramic, porcelain, clay, glass or tile. Materials needed for this project are: carbide tile bit, normal variable speed drill (not a hammer drill), air tool oil, plumbers putty, MDF board or a scrap piece of wood. Step 1 - ...more
You need to repair a broken tile. Before you can take out the old tile, you have to remove the tile grout first. Watch this video tutorial for a demonstration on how to remove tile grout.
Painting ceramic tile is an easy and inexpensive way to cover up ugly tile. Meghan Carter walks you through the steps for painting ceramic tile. Her tips will make painting ceramic tile a painless process, and ensure that you get professional results.
In this video, we learn how to install tile in your home using SimpleMat. SimpleMat is a double sided adhesive mat that is designed to set tile on an existing counter top. Adding tile is a very easy way to add value to your home or give it a quick face lift. To apply, first re ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to install a ceramic tile floor. Before installing, you need to prepare a solid base. First, you want to take off the trim, then calculate the area of the room. Prepare the floor by inspecting low or high spots. You will want to apply mortar, the ...more
Adding a backsplash with tile to your kitchen area is a great way to add some character to your room and is easy to clean. This tutorial will show how you can tile a kitchen backsplash in your home today. It can be a difficult task for anybody who has not had any kind of exper ...more
If you lay tile it is rare to do a job and not have to cut a curved piece of tile. If you do have to cut a curved piece there are two ways to do it. First, you have to draw outline of the cut that you need to make on the tile itself and mark the part you are going to remove wi ...more
Ceramic tile floors offer a very attractive and durable alternative to other floor finishes. They come in many different sizes and colors to match the décor of any room and they can provide years of maintenance-free use. Additionally, ceramic tiles are fairly easy to install. ...more
In this video, learn how to tile a kitchen backsplash. This video, hosted by the Home Depot will show you how to prepare and install this new improvement to your kitchen. This clip will walk your through a two-foot high backsplash with glass tile accents. You will also learn h ...more
This video tutorial outlines a number of quick and easy tips for installing a porcelain tile backsplash in your home kitchen, from checking the substrate (that is, the surface to be tiled) to the application of the tile itself. For a complete, step-by-step overview of the DIY ...more
This great video provided by Home Depot demonstrates the right way to install tile for your kitchen countertop with a sink. Make sure to make your measurements precise as any inconsistencies will stick out like a sore thumb. Part 1 of 2 - How to Tile a kitchen countertop with ...more