Category Archives: Smartphones

Smartphones

Did You Know Your iPhone Calculator Has A Hidden Backspace?

It’s quite common to make mistakes while entering numbers into the iPhone calculator app. Unfortunately, the app lacks a dedicated backspace button, so many people end up deleting everything and starting over. However, there is a hidden feature that allows you to delete individual digits instead of the entire number. Here’s how you can use it:

  1. Open the calculator app on your iPhone.
  2. Enter a number.
  3. Swipe left or right over the number you just entered.
  4. With each swipe, one digit will be deleted.

If this feature doesn’t seem to work for you, make sure you’re swiping on the numbers displayed at the top of the screen, not on the numbers in the calculator itself. If you’re in the middle of a multi-step calculation and make a mistake with one number, you can tap the C (Clear) key to delete only your current entry. The AC (All Clear) button will delete all the previous steps in the calculation, so only tap that if you want to start from scratch.

It’s worth noting that Apple’s calculator app is somewhat inconsistent across its devices. For instance, the Apple Watch calculator has a built-in delete button in the number display and even includes a tip calculator. On the other hand, the iPad still lacks a calculator app, and there are no signs of Apple introducing one anytime soon.

Smartphones

How To Use Your iPhone To Sign Important Documents

RecCameraStock/Shutterstock

Chances are you’ve had to use your computer to digitally sign a document at some point in your life, whether through a service like DocuSign or a brief back-and-forth with a PDF document. However, you don’t have to use your computer for this if you don’t want to — or don’t have access to it — At least, not if you have an iPhone.

Apple’s Markup toolbar has been a part of iOS for some time now, and one of its many features is an option to create, manage, and place hand-written (or finger-scribbled) signatures for use in PDFs and other documents that may call for one. This way you can add or draw out your own signature directly from your iPhone, without the need to use another device as an intermediary.

The process of actually attaching a signature, as in a written signature and not an email sign-off message, with your iPhone is very simple. The catch is that the app you’re using has to support the iOS Markup toolbar for it to work — though at the very least the default Mail app can utilize it, so you have a built-in option.

How to add a signature with your iPhone

RecCameraStock/Shutterstock

The simplest process to add a signature to a document via your iPhone, if you don’t want to deal with installing any additional apps, is to do the following:

  1. Draft an email to yourself on another platform (such as a home or work computer) and attach the document you want to sign to the message.
  2. Send the email (with attached document) to yourself, then open the Mail app (or other email app that supports the iOS Markup toolbar) on your iPhone.
  3. Open the email on your iPhone, then download and open the attached document.
  4. Scroll through the open document to locate the lines you need to sign. If the Markup toolbar isn’t already visible, tap the Markup icon (it looks like the tip of a pen) to open it.
  5. Tap the Plus (+) symbol in the Markup toolbar, then select Add Signature.
  6. If you’ve previously created a signature you can tap its preview in the pop-up menu to add it to the document. Otherwise tap Add or Remove Signature to create a new one.
  7. If you’re creating a new signature, drag a finger across the screen along the horizontal line next to the X at the bottom of the window. Tap Done to save and use the new signature.
  8. Use your finger to drag the signature into place, and drag one of the corners in the signature selection box to resize it.

Your document is now signed, ready to be saved or shared as needed.

Smartphones

How To Use Any App On The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Cover Screen

Samsung has made it easy for you to open five apps on the cover screen of your Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 with minimal effort. These apps include YouTube, Netflix, Google Messages, Samsung Messages, and Google Maps. These apps have been optimized by Samsung specifically for the 3.4-inch cover screen. To enable these apps on your cover screen, you will need to make some changes in your phone’s settings.

  1. First, open the Settings app on your Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5.
  2. Next, select the Advanced features option.
  3. Then, choose the Labs option.
  4. Toggle on the Apps allowed on cover screen setting.

Once you have enabled this setting, you can select which of the five curated apps you want to enable on your cover screen. Simply tap the toggles next to each app that you want to include. And that’s it! Now, when you navigate your phone using the cover screen, you will see a new panel called the Cover Screen Launcher, which will contain the apps you have enabled. However, if you want to add even more apps to your cover screen and are willing to go through a few more steps, here’s what you need to do.

Smartphones

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Vs. Honor Magic V2: Thinness Comparison

When it comes to thinness, the Honor Magic V2 truly lives up to its reputation. It feels incredibly thin when held, measuring only 9.9 mm when closed, resembling a regular slab smartphone. Once opened, it maintains a thickness of around 4.5 mm. The camera bump on the back adds another 4 mm to the overall thickness. Despite these dimensions, the Honor Magic V2 manages to incorporate a powerful 5,000 mAh battery that boasts an impressive battery life.

The cover screen of the Honor Magic V2 has a 20:9 aspect ratio. This, combined with its significantly slimmer profile compared to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, makes it a highly user-friendly phone even when closed. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 features a cover screen with a 23.1:9 aspect ratio and a thickness of 13.4mm when closed, making it less impressive in comparison.

Simply put, the Honor Magic V2 is superior to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 when it comes to the cover screen. It offers better usability as a closed phone, although Samsung does have an advantage in terms of one-handed use — a win for Samsung if that is your preferred usage scenario. However, for everyone else, the Honor Magic V2 is the clear favorite when closed, with Samsung coming in a distant second.

Smartphones

Fairphone 5: A Phone Built to Last for Years

The Fairphone 5 is not your average smartphone. It is designed with repairability and long lifespan in mind. What sets it apart is the company’s commitment to using fair and recycled materials. According to Fairphone, the phone is made up of “70% fair focus or recycled materials.”

Let’s take a closer look at some of the sustainable features of the Fairphone 5. The battery, for instance, is made with “fair lithium and fairtrade gold in the supply chain and impact cobalt credits.” The company also ensures a living wage bonus and a commitment to high standards of CO2 reduction and social auditing from their battery supplier. In addition, the battery frame is made from 75% post-consumer recycled plastics. Even the solder paste is 100% recycled tin. Furthermore, 80% of the steel and nickel alloy in the battery is recycled.

Worker treatment is another important aspect for Fairphone. The company emphasizes that their main supplier meets the strictest standards for safe and decent working conditions (SA8000& ISO45001). One of their key focuses is providing living wages to increase income for workers. They also aim to strengthen worker voice and representation, along with ensuring health and safety measures.

If you’re interested in purchasing the Fairphone 5, it is currently available for pre-order from the manufacturer’s website for €699.00.

Smartphones

8 Ways To Improve the Security of Your Android Phone

In the year 2023, encryption has become a necessary tool, and many Android apps have integrated it. When people think of encryption, messaging apps like WhatsApp often come to mind. These apps use end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to ensure that only the intended recipients can read the messages on their devices. Even Google’s stock SMS app with RCS support includes this feature, keeping your messages secure. However, encryption goes beyond messaging apps. There are various other aspects of your phone that you can encrypt.

Thankfully, Google has taken care of many encryption requirements by default. All the data backed up from your phone to your Google account is encrypted, giving you a safe option for storing information. Additionally, most email clients use Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption, providing secure email communication. Google Drive and 2FAS also use encryption to enhance security. For those who want to take extra measures, options like Proton Mail offer stronger encryption than most email clients, while Resilio Sync allows you to host your own cloud backup.

Encrypting everything on your phone is not currently possible without significant effort. Fortunately, most of your sensitive information is already encrypted by default, leaving only a few areas that require attention. It is still worth the time to review your phone and identify anything that can be backed up or encrypted to enhance privacy.

Smartphones

The Top 10 Android Phones of 2023

The Google Pixel Fold is a new contender in the world of folding phones, offering strong competition to Samsung’s dominance. With its impressive software customizations and design, the Pixel Fold holds its own in the market.

Compared to the Samsung Z Fold5, the Pixel Fold has a more compact and squat design, resembling the opening of a passport. Google and third-party developers have updated popular apps to make the most of the expanded screen space, allowing for multitasking and dragging and dropping content between apps.

Even when closed, the Pixel Fold’s 5.8-inch outer display is wide enough for typing and taking one-handed photos. Opening the phone reveals a 7.6-inch FHD+ OLED display with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. The phone features a triple rear camera array similar to the Pixel 7 Pro, as well as IPX8 water resistance and built-in VPN protection.

The Pixel Fold is available in two colors and two capacities: 256GB and 512GB. It can be purchased for $1799 on Amazon.

Smartphones

This Easy iPhone Camera Trick Allows You to Convert Currency Quickly

If you have an iPhone Xs, iPhone Xr, or a later model running on at least iOS 16, you can make use of a hidden feature called Live Text to perform various tasks while traveling. One of these tasks is the ability to translate foreign languages and convert foreign currencies. To use this feature, first check if Live Text is enabled on your iPhone:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Camera.
  3. Make sure the toggle next to Show Detected Text is turned on.

Once Live Text is turned on, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Camera app.
  2. Aim the camera at the price you want to convert, such as a sign in a restaurant, a menu, or a price tag on an item you want to buy.
  3. Zoom in and ensure that the price is within the yellow frame on the screen and appears clear and in focus.
  4. Tap on the Live Text icon located in the bottom-right corner of the viewfinder.
Jam Kotenko/SlashGear

If done correctly, the steps above will capture the text and offer various options for using the selection, such as Copy, Select All, Look Up, or Translate. If the captured text is a foreign currency amount, you will also see an additional option for currency conversion in the lower-left corner of the camera’s viewfinder. By tapping on it, you can see the converted amount in the currency applicable to the region you selected during the initial setup of your iPhone. If Live Text captures multiple price tags, you can choose which one you want to convert by selecting “More.”

Smartphones

A Simple Explanation of Samsung Pass and Its Benefits

Samsung Pass is a convenient feature that allows you to use your fingerprint to securely sign into your accounts on websites and supported apps. Unlike traditional password managers, it does not generate new passwords. Instead, it utilizes your existing login information to simplify the sign-in process. Once Samsung Pass is set up, you no longer have to remember usernames and passwords. You can simply rely on your fingerprint to log in.

In addition to signing in, Samsung Pass offers the option to store your address and credit card details. This eliminates the need to manually fill in this information when making online orders. The data stored in Samsung Pass is protected by Knox Security, and your biometric data is encrypted and stored securely in the “Trust Zone” of your phone. It’s important to note that Samsung Pass uses the public key of your biometric data, not your actual biometrics, to log into websites.

By signing in with the same Samsung account, you can use Samsung Pass on up to five mobile devices. Your saved IDs and passwords will sync across these devices, but you will need to register your fingerprints on each new device. It’s worth mentioning that Samsung Pass is only compatible with Samsung Internet, so it cannot be used with other browsers like Chrome or Firefox. However, if Chrome is your primary browser, you can still use Google Password Manager for website sign-ins while continuing to utilize Samsung Pass for supported apps using your fingerprint.

News, Smartphones

The iPhone 15 Pro Color Options Are Going To Upset Some People

Apple’s decision to use titanium as the material for its premium phones, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, is likely to upset some people. Titanium is a natural element known for its high resistance to chemical erosion and its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, making it an obvious choice for Apple. Not only does titanium offer superior qualities compared to stainless steel, but it is also lighter.

In recent years, gold has been a popular color option for the stainless steel finish of iPhones, starting with the iPhone XS in 2018. However, with the switch to titanium, Apple will no longer offer a gold color option. Instead, Apple plans to showcase the natural beauty of titanium with a titanium gray option. Apple’s rationale seems to be that if they are using the best material available, there is no need to hide it. The titanium iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone Pro Max will also likely come in space black and silver colors.

Although fans of purple and gold may be disappointed to learn that these colors may be discontinued, the introduction of a new dark blue option and the stronger, lighter titanium build may provide some consolation. It is important to note that titanium is more expensive than stainless steel, so it remains to be seen how this change will impact the cost of the iPhone 15 Pro. However, we won’t have to wait long to find out. Soon, we will get a closer look at the new color options available for the iPhone 15 lineup.