I receive more and more calls about Android tablets, where the user is inundated with popups, and the home screen has been made-over with new colors schemes and icons. It’s very alien and uncomfortable when this happens, and it often tracks back to some app that has changed the Default Home App. So let me … Read more
Personal trackers are everywhere, nowadays. People use them to know where their keys are, or to keep tabs on the family pet. Unfortunately, they can be misused to track objects & people without explicit permission, so I want to go over how you would check for and detect unwanted trackers. Just in case! Personal Trackers … Read more
Consumer Reports has developed a new free app called Permission Slip. They made this tool to help the average person understand where their personal data is collected and sold, and take back some control over that information. To use this app, you do have to sign up and hand over your personal info. CR promises … Read more
Much like the plant-ID apps I’ve blogged about, there are plenty of free apps for identifying animals. There’s no need to crowdsource your answer from Facebook. Take a pic or recording and send it up to the experts. You can have an AI or website give you the answer immediately. And for free! Got a … Read more
Wondering if that volunteer plant in your garden is a weed or not? Curious about that gorgeous tree at the park? Need to know if you’re looking at some Virginia Creeper or Poison Sumac? I know there’s some of you who won’t rest until you know the exact name of the mystery plant you’ve just … Read more
There are always new mobile apps for you to discover, and it looks like NewProfilePic is this month’s all-star. This freebie, available through the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, will transform a selfie photo into something stylized and eye-catching. All you have to do is upload any photo file((of a single, close-up … Read more
Here are options for dealing with spam text messages: Forward the Message to SPAM When you get a spam text, forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your carrier know about what spam is spreading where, and they’ll study the trends to prevent more spam from reaching you. To forward a message on Apple devices, … Read more