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News: Magic Leap Loses CFO Scott Henry & Effects Wizard John Gaeta Following News of Funding Woes

This week's news that Magic Leap's patents had entered collateral limbo, now in the hands of JPMorgan Chase, threw a dark cloud over the company.

Market Reality: Magic Leap Seeks Series E Funding, Apple Delays AR Headset, & Snap Starts Selling Spectacles 3

The week in AR business news started out with a bang with two bombshell reports that cast a shadow on the AR industry as a whole.

How To: Navigate to Home or Work in 1 Tap with Google Maps

Even if you're totally familiar with all the routes you can take to go home or work, you'll still want to use Google Maps to find the fastest route in current traffic conditions. If you're on Android, there's an extremely fast way to do this.

How To: Disable Auto-Rotation in Your iPhone's Messages App

Having your iPhone's display orientation go from portrait to landscape while lying down in bed can get pretty annoying, especially while chatting with others within Messages. If you have a jailbroken device, however, you can easily remedy this headache by way of a free tweak.

How To: Create Custom Text Tones for Your iPhone Using macOS 10.15 Catalina

Apple hasn't refreshed its text tones on iPhones since iOS 7. That's six years of the same sounds. And while text tones like Bamboo and Hello have undoubtedly aged like fine wine, that's still too long to live with the same old sounds day after day. Let's take matters into our own hands — let's make our own text tones, right in Music on macOS 10.15 Catalina.

How To: Create Ringtones for Your iPhone Using 'Music' in macOS 10.15 Catalina

Have you ever heard someone else's iPhone ringing and thought it was yours? Of course you did. iPhone ringtones are iconic, but not varied. If you're using one of the more popular iOS sounds, you'll likely encounter it in the wild multiple times. Why bother, when you can create your own custom ringtones right on your Mac.

How To: Type to Siri Without Changing a Setting in iOS 13

One of my favorite iOS hacks is Type to Siri. This lets you type your queries to the iPhone digital assistant without needing to use your voice. Unfortunately, Type to Siri replaces the typical Siri voice prompt on the Home or Side button, meaning you need to choose between one or the other. That is, until iOS 13.

How To: Share Any Password from Your iPhone to Other Apple Devices

In iOS 11, Apple made it easier for you to share passwords with friends. Back then, it was just Wi-Fi passwords, which made sense. "What's the Wi-Fi?" gets old after a while. But now, whether you're running iOS 12 or 13, you can share any password you want with any iPhone around, all with one of iOS' best features: AirDrop.

How To: Set Reminders to Alert You on a Particular Day & Time on iOS 13

The Reminders app has always lacked the oomf that would make a person switch from a powerful third-party task manager. But Reminders has received quite the makeover in iOS 13, including a revamped UI and several new features, such as timed reminder alerts, which make the app a worthy to-do list option for the iPhone.

How To: Use 'Sign in with Apple' on iOS 13 for Better Security & Privacy

We've all seen the login pages that allow you to log in to third-party accounts using your credentials from Facebook, Google, or Twitter. It saves you the trouble of creating another account and remembering more passwords — but it can also become a privacy and security issue, which is why Apple created the "Sign in with Apple" feature for iOS 13.

How To: Remove Contacts from the Share Sheet on iOS 13

The share system on your iPhone serves as a hub for actions and share extensions, streamlining the process of saving files, sharing photos and videos, and other important tasks. On iOS 13 the Share Sheet has received a considerable upgrade, including the ability to more easily share content with your favorite contacts.

How To: Add, Remove, & Reorder the Share Sheet Options on Your iPhone

On iPhones, the share sheet is a powerful yet largely underestimated tool. For the uninitiated, the share sheet is the menu that opens whenever you tap the share button (the box with the up-arrow). This menu features sharing options to first and third-party apps, as well as extra functions like saving, copying, duplicating, and more. Best of all? It's surprisingly customizable.

How To: Get to the 'App Info' Page for Any App Faster

When an app is acting up, the first thing you should do is head to its App Info page. Here, you can force stop the buggy app or delete its data and cache. It even lets you manage permissions and notifications, quickly uninstall the app, and more. So you should definitely know about the easy new way to get to this page.

How To: Set & Trigger Location-Based Reminders on Your iPhone

Apple's Reminders app is essential for those of us with a forgetful memory. But a standard Reminders entry isn't foolproof. They aren't great if you need to do something right when you get somewhere, since it can be tricky to set a specific time for that reminder. That's why Apple's location-based reminders are so darn useful.

2019 Gift Guide: Essential Smartphone Camera Accessories for Filmmakers

Advancements in technology have made it perfectly possible to make a short film or even an entire movie with your iPhone or Android — as long as you've got the right gear. Lenses, stabilizers, tripods, lighting, microphones, chargers, and cases can make the difference between a good movie and a great film, all of which can make a great gift for those aspiring (or current) filmmakers in your life.

News: Starbucks Uses Instagram AR to Promote Sustainability via Holiday Campaign

Starbucks is spicing things up ahead of this holiday season with a little augmented reality joy. This week the company launched its first Instagram filter, called Holijoy, delivered like an early Christmas gift and packing four seasonal lenses.

2019 Gift Guide: Must-Have Smartphone Accessories for Gaming

Smartphone gaming continues to improve with ever sharper displays and raw processing power to deliver console-quality graphics right in the palm of your hands. Nonetheless, you still stand to improve the gaming experience on any phone by adding the right accessories to the mix.

News: Amid Motorola Razr Hype, Lenovo Unveils AR Glasses Concept for Private Computing

After drawing attention from nostalgic Gen Xers for its Motorola Razr reboot with a foldable screen, Lenovo has a new augmented reality smartglasses concept that the company hopes will also turn some heads.

How To: What's New in Shortcuts in iOS 13

When Apple acquired the popular Workflow app in 2017, many were worried that it would either get replaced with something much worse, or just disappear entirely. Thankfully, Apple put these concerns to rest with the launch of Shortcuts. In iOS 13, Shortcuts is becoming more powerful than ever, providing functionality on the iPhone that the original Workflow team could only dream of.

How To: Return to the Default Font in Mail Drafts After Using a Custom One

One of iOS 13's coolest features is the ability to download, install, and choose fonts in select apps like Pages and Mail. However, you might notice an issue when writing an email with a custom typeface: there's no option to return to the default font. What gives?

2019 Gift Guide: Must-Have Phone Accessories for Movie Lovers

There's never been a better time for streaming movies and TV shows on the go. With so many services available, the only limitation to your enjoyment is your phone's accessories. Whether you're buying for yourself or someone else, here are some of the best gifts that improve the movie-watching experience on mobile.

News: Everything You Need to Know About the Samsung Galaxy S11e

The Galaxy S10e was an underrated change for Samsung. Even if you felt they were simply copying Apple, who had introduced a sub $800 phone months prior, having a truly "budget" flagship was more than welcome. So with Samsung learning from its mistakes, fans should be excited about the upcoming sequel.

News: Disney Plus Serves Up Snapchat Lens to Promote Live-Action 'Lady & the Tramp'

Unless you've been totally off the grid, there's a good chance you're aware that the Disney Plus streaming video service launched this week. And, if you're on this site, you're likely salivating over the new Star Wars series, The Mandalorian.

News: All the Latest Galaxy S11 & S11+ Rumored Specs & Features on One Page

For the first time in a while, I'm truly excited about a Samsung release. I've paid more attention to Samsung in the last few years than I have previously, and after testing the Samsung Galaxy S10+ for a while, I'm sold. And so, with the upcoming Galaxy S11, I'm eagerly awaiting the announcement.

News: University of Sussex Researchers Develop Method for Making Holograms Touchable

Most augmented reality experiences are purely visual, with spatial audio gaining in popularity to make visual experiences more realistic. However, leveraging the sense of touch may be the next frontier for AR experiences.

Best TV Streaming Apps: Disney+ vs. Apple TV+ vs. Netflix vs. Hulu vs. Amazon Prime

Who here binges TV on a regular basis? I know I do. Never before have we had so many options for watching our favorite shows, especially when you consider how easy it is to stream from anywhere on a mobile device. But sometimes, all that choice gets a little overwhelming. What services are really worth the money? Where should you be investing your Friday-night binges?

How To: Use Samsung's Hidden Screen Recorder on One UI 2

One of the more low-key functions to arrive with the Note 10 was the ability to easily record your screen system-wide. Thankfully, this long-awaited feature will finally make its way to popular Galaxy devices like the S10 and Note 9 thanks to One UI 2.

News: Flow Immersive Launches Magic Leap Augmented Reality Data Slideshow App That Puts PowerPoint to Shame

Thanks to the expanding universe of augmented reality tools being made available, increasingly, anybody can liven up sleepy office meetings with immersive computing.

How To: Remap the Soli Motion Sense Gestures on Your Pixel 4 — No Root Needed

Whether you love Motion Sense or think it's a gimmick, one thing we can agree on is that its functionality is limited. It's currently limited to switching tracks on a playlist, snoozing alarms, silencing calls, lowering the volume of alerts, and checking notifications. But a new mod will help you do so much more with it.

How To: Re-Enable Checkra1n Jailbreak After Restarting Your iPhone

Semi-untethered jailbreaks are here to stay, as evidenced by iOS 11's Electra method, Chimera for iOS 12, and even the new bootrom-based Checkra1n tool for iOS 13. While not as convenient as fully untethered, re-enabling a semi-untethered jailbreak is still pretty easy once you get used to the steps involved.

2019 Gift Guide: Keep Your Friends & Family Productive with These Essential Smartphone Gifts

Christmas is just one week before Jan. 1. That means a lot of New Year's resolutions filled with promises to better ourselves with increased productivity, focus, and work ethics — but getting started can be challenging. Give the people in your life a leg up this holiday season with these smartphone gifts to keep them on-task in 2020.

How To: Make Your Phone Pass SafetyNet with EdXposed Installed

One of the longest-running cat and mouse games in Android has to be that of Google's SafetyNet feature and specific apps that can trip the flag. Many developers have resorted to using Magisk to create their modules since it can systemlessly pass SafetyNet in most cases. However, EdXposed is having some issues passing SafetyNet right now, which affects more than just your mods.

How To: Play Apex Legends on Your Phone Right Now

With EA chief executive Andrew Wilson stating the official mobile version of Apex Legends won't arrive until the 2021 fiscal year, fans have to wait at least another year to enjoy their favorite battle royale game on the go. But for those who can't wait, there are ways to play the game on iPhone and Android right now.

News: Apple Watch Series 5 Offers the Best Lifestyle Assistant & Fitness Wearable You Can Get

The wearables space experienced its "big bang" moment back in 2015 when Apple released its first wearable device, the Apple Watch. Although the device was initially dismissed by some as an unnecessary charm bracelet packed with frivolous tech, in very short order, the public learned just how useful the Apple Watch can be.

News: New Photos of the 2019 Motorola RAZR Surface in FCC Filing, Reveal Dimensions, Notch & Biometrics

Lenovo has done a great job preventing leaks of their new Moto RAZR. We've seen a few images here and there, but for the most part, we knew very little about the long-rumored phone. But with the announcement date just around the corner, an FCC filing has given us a look at the new RAZR from almost every angle.

News: Magic Leap Adds Spotify Music to Growing Arsenal of Spatial Computing Apps

The spatial computing world of Magic Leap is no longer limited to the rarefied tones of Sigur Rós and Sennheiser's Ambeo Augmented Audio app. Now, the entire music universe will be at your augmented reality fingertips.

News: Snapchat Transports Gucci Fans to Trippy Tropical Island for Holiday Promotion

Baby, it's cold outside, but, with some help from Snapchat augmented reality, Gucci is thawing our wintery hearths with a virtual trip to the tropics.

News: Sally Beauty's YouCam-Powered AR Try-on Kiosks Land in 500 US Stores

Another major retailer is putting all its chips in on the relentless rise of selfie culture. Sally Beauty is rolling out kiosks to try-on "some of its best" hair dyes in 500 of its stores throughout the US. The in-store augmented reality-powered kiosks invite you to view yourself on video, overlay a punky (or otherwise) hair color, and snap a selfie on the screen to share your #glowup with friends.

News: Apple Releases iOS 13.3 Public Beta 2 to Software Testers

Apple is often unpredictable when it comes to beta releases, especially with public betas. Developers receive their updates first, then public testers have to wait and see if Apple will do the same for us. Sometimes, the iPhone OEM makes us wait until the following day, but not with iOS 13.3 public beta 2. This update is now available to download and install.

How To: Jailbreak iOS 12.3 to iOS 13.2.2 on Your iPhone Using Checkra1n

The infamous Checkm8 bootrom exploit first showcased by axi0mX has finally given way to the Checkra1n tool which aims to offer a permanent jailbreak solution for modders running on iOS 13 and beyond. The latest jailbreak method covers devices ranging from the iPhone 5s all the way to the iPhone X.