All posts tagged: android

Your Android widgets are hiding buttons you’ve never tapped

Your Android widgets are hiding buttons you’ve never tapped

Published by skeptic

Widgets on Android are easily resizable (which you probably already knew), just as long as you tap and hold on a widget and drag the resize handles. But did you know that some widgets, especially from Google, add more functionality when you resize them and make them bigger? This is especially true of Google widgets, like in the case of the Gemini widget, which, once expanded, adds three additional buttons that conveniently let you screen share with Gemini, upload images or attach a file. I’ve made a list of three widgets (that are also very useful) that are hiding extra features that reveal themselves if you just expand the widgets to a bigger size, and you probably already have these apps and widgets installed on your phone. Related This 3-widget setup is the only Android home screen you need Simplify your home screen with just the basics for a clean, functional look. First things first Credit: Brandon Miniman / MakeUseOf You probably already know how to do this, but it’s worth going over anyhow. To add …

These Android Auto features made my commute safer without sacrificing navigation or music

These Android Auto features made my commute safer without sacrificing navigation or music

Published by skeptic

When you get inside your car, most probably the first thing that you would do aside from starting up your car is to get Android Auto connected. Thanks to Android Auto, you no longer need to endure a silent commute or nervously glance down at your phone for directions. Android Auto lets you play and run your favorite music and turn-by-turn navigation simultaneously right on your car’s infotainment system. But while it is great for keeping your music and maps front and center, plugging in can also bring a flood of notifications directly to your dashboard. Thankfully, there are a bunch of ways to isolate those distractions without sacrificing your navigation or music. Related Your Android Auto is hiding a feature most drivers never find — here’s what it does This underrated feature can reinvent how your infotainment screen looks. Finding the sweet spot between focus and entertainment Taking control of your digital dashboard Sitting inside your car, your phone should not be a device that you should be using. Which is where Android Auto …

How I scan documents with my Android phone and turn them into PDFs for free – it’s easy

How I scan documents with my Android phone and turn them into PDFs for free – it’s easy

Published by skeptic

Jack Wallen\ZDNET ZDNET key takeaways You don’t have to install third-party apps to create PDFs. The process is built in and free to use. Use caution when creating PDFs of sensitive information. At some point, you’re going to need to create and send a PDF document from your Android phone. To make that happen, I’m sure you’ve scoured the Google Play Store, only to wonder, “Which app is best and safest?” With reports of malicious apps found on both Android and iOS, it’s become crucial that you place security at the top of your list. That’s why I always recommend you try the preinstalled apps before heading to the store. Also: I tried Google’s new desktop app for Windows, and I’ll never search the old way again Such is the case with creating PDFs on Android from paper documents. You don’t have to install any software, because the ability is baked right into the Google Drive app. Let me show you how easy it is. How to turn your scans into PDFs on Android What you’ll …

Why the Same Android App Works Differently on Different Phones

Why the Same Android App Works Differently on Different Phones

Published by skeptic

I have two Android phones sitting on my desk right now, a Google Pixel 9 and a OnePlus Open. A few days ago I noticed that Discord notifications showed up instantly on my Pixel but arriving late on the OnePlus. It’s the same app with the same version number, using the same Wi-Fi network and the same Discord account. I figured it was a Discord issue, but it turns out it’s not. Discord is just one of many apps that behave differently across Android phones, and there are several reasons for that. I dug a little deeper to find out, and here’s what I discovered. Related These 3 Android settings look useful but they can quietly break your phone Because “looks helpful” and “is helpful” are very different things. You’re probably not running the same APK How Google tailors each install to the device Since 2021, Google requires all new apps on its Play Store to be published as Android App Bundles (AABs) instead of traditional APK files. AABs aren’t installable files, they’re more like …

Motorola Moto G Stylus 2026 Review: Better Pen, Higher Price

Motorola Moto G Stylus 2026 Review: Better Pen, Higher Price

Published by skeptic

This is a playbook Motorola has used for the rest of its Moto G phones to keep prices static, but it especially stings here with the price increase. Thankfully, performance is completely fine. I have been using this phone for nearly a month and haven’t had any issues, outside of some lag when launching the camera app. You’ll see more of its limits running graphics-heavy games—something competing phones won’t have as much trouble with—but it’s generally more than adequate. There’s a slight bump in battery capacity to 5,200 mAh, and I can easily go two full days with light to average use. One day, when I had a very high screen-on time of nine hours, I had to recharge the phone by around 7 pm, so if you’re screen-maxxing, you’ll definitely need to top up once during the day. Overall, I’m happy with the juice. A nice perk: There’s wireless charging, so you have two ways to charge it up. As for the 6.7-inch, 120-Hz AMOLED screen, I haven’t had a problem reading it on …

Galaxy S26 review: Samsung’s still-compact flagship Android | Samsung

Galaxy S26 review: Samsung’s still-compact flagship Android | Samsung

Published by Sam Flores

Samsung’s compact flagship phone hasn’t changed much in a year, but the S26 is still one of the best smaller handsets available as rivals grow larger and larger. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. The S26 is the cheapest and smallest of this year’s top Samsungs, dwarfed by the top-of-the-line S26 Ultra in size and price. But like everything with a memory chip at the moment, the S26 has increased in price by £80 or the equivalent to £879 (€949/$899/A$1,349). At least it has double the starting storage. Samsung has made the S26’s bright, crisp and smooth screen a smidgen larger, stretched to 6.3in on the diagonal. But with skinny bezels it is only 2.7mm taller and 1.2mm wider than its predecessor, which isn’t noticeable in use. The back of the S26 is a bit more bland, losing the more showy accents around the cameras from last year’s model. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian The design is simple and feels good in the …

Motorola’s New Razr Folding Phones Command a Higher Price and Few Upgrades

Motorola’s New Razr Folding Phones Command a Higher Price and Few Upgrades

Published by skeptic

Like clockwork, Motorola is back with a new set of Razr folding flip phones. The formula is the same as last year, with three phones differing in specs and price: the Razr Ultra, Razr+, and Razr. But alongside these models, Motorola is finally launching its first-ever book-style folding phone, the Razr Fold, which it first teased at CES 2026. The company announced the new handsets at an event in Los Angeles, where it also revealed a new pair of Moto Buds 2 Plus wireless earbuds that look eerily like Apple’s AirPods Pro, but in blue; these will retail for $150 and will be available on April 30. Sadly, all of Motorola’s folding flips are getting price increases, in line with what we’re seeing from competitors like Samsung. The Razr Ultra is $1,500, the Razr+ costs $1,100, and the Razr starts at $800—that’s a $200, $100, and $100 price bump over their predecessors, respectively. The new Razr Fold costs $1,900, landing between the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7. Preorders for all …

These hidden Android gestures made my phone feel like it finally understood how I actually want to use it

These hidden Android gestures made my phone feel like it finally understood how I actually want to use it

Published by skeptic

I have spent the better part of a decade covering tech, and if there is one thing that I’ve learned, it is that a smartphone is only as smart as the user. If you are using your smartphone the way it came out of the box, you aren’t using its full potential. Let’s take swipe gestures, for example. Google introduced system-wide navigation gestures with Android 10 in 2019, after Apple made them the default on iPhone X. People are still navigating their Android devices the hard way, tapping through menus, stretching their thumbs to the limit, etc. You will be glad to know that Android has several hidden gestures that will help you fly through your daily tasks. Related Navigate Your iPhone Faster With These 8 Tricks These iPhone navigation tricks make everyday tasks feel effortless. Use this gesture and become a pro multitasker The quick switch Traditionally, if you want to switch to a different app on your phone, you have to swipe up, pause, and hunt through the recent app cards to jump …

I stopped paying for file manager apps after discovering what Android already has

I stopped paying for file manager apps after discovering what Android already has

Published by skeptic

Like many folks, I also used to rely on third-party apps to manage files on Android. I wanted better organization, faster file transfers, and advanced tools like file compression. Frankly speaking, the built-in options felt too basic. Well, I used to think like that until I tried Android’s built-in file management features. After using them for a while, I realized that I didn’t need my third-party app at all. Surprisingly, Android already offers an array of powerful file management features that rival popular apps. Related My Samsung has security features I’ve never seen on any other Android phone Samsung is clearly ahead of the curve. I didn’t realize Android’s file manager is this good Don’t underestimate it Most Android devices have a preinstalled file manager. If you own a Pixel phone, you have Files by Google; Samsung users have My Files. However, these apps are also easier to overlook. At first glance, I found Android’s built-in file manager too basic. I thought they were nowhere closer to dedicated third-party file managers. Once I started exploring, …

I tested a BlackBerry-style Android phone with a keyboard, and it’s weirdly practical in 2026

I tested a BlackBerry-style Android phone with a keyboard, and it’s weirdly practical in 2026

Published by skeptic

pros and cons Pros Compact form factor Key-specific shortcuts Keyboard supports cursor Five years of OS and security updates High-capacity silicon carbon battery Cons White and orange keys are hard to read Cameras aren’t the best No water resistance Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. I’ve been reviewing Unihertz phones since the Atom came out in 2018, and I’ve always enjoyed its affordable, if niche, devices. For the past few weeks, I’ve been testing its latest model: the Unihertz Titan 2 Elite, and can confidently say it’s the best phone Unihertz has ever made.  One of the biggest reasons is the physical keyboard. Unihertz seems to be capitalizing on the excitement surrounding a return to keys — highlighted by the Clicks Communicator, first shown at CES in January (but still not available).  Also: The best Android phones you can buy The second is the Titan 2 Elite’s sleek form factor. Unlike past Unihertz phones, which tended to be bulkier than the competition, the Titan 2 Elite is much thinner: about the same width as an …