Likewise, knowing your device’s operating system version can help you diagnose and troubleshoot performance issues. This tutorial will show you how to check the Android version of different devices. How to Check Android Version (Stock Android Devices) “Stock Android” is the version of the operating system released by Google. It’s recognized as the stable and pure form of Android. Phones with stock Android are bloatware-free, and they receive prompt system updates and security patches....

Some are a better bargain than others based on price alone, but you do need to pay close attention to what your family will use before choosing just one. Netflix ($8.99 Per Month) Netflix remains the most popular streaming service, with approximately 20 million subscribers as of May 2018. Although you’ll find plenty of popular shows licensed from other networks, Netflix’s draw is its original programming. Popular shows like Stranger Things and Orange Is the New Black keep viewers paying that monthly subscription fee....

As one of Microsoft’s more recent features, the Surface Pen adds a layer of productivity that you don’t have access to on a traditional desktop or laptop computer. Who Benefits From Using Surface Pens? Architects, designers, and other creative industries use it to sketch and draw.Builders and engineers who are used to walking around with a pen or pencil behind their ear.Office professionals, salespeople, entrepreneurs.Basically, everyone. There are several features built into the tool, including:...

Here, we list some interesting features that you can use with your notes in the OneNote app. 1. Make OneNote Look Like an Actual Notebook If you’re used to taking notes in physical notebooks, you might prefer OneNote to have an actual notebook-like interface. Luckily, OneNote allows you to change the background of your notes, so you can use a notebook-themed background if you want to. To do that, open your note with OneNote....

Once you get started with our list of the best Google search features, you’ll soon realize that the scope of Google is almost endless. We’ve picked out some of the best features, but Google is constantly adding more features like this, without really ever announcing it. Either way, these Google search features are undoubtedly going to add some convenience to your life or at least bring a bit of fun to you....

The service is renowned for its deep library of more than 40 million songs. You can find tons of old favorites or discover new artists and bands. Not only that, but it also offers collaborative playlists, podcasts, early album access, and its new music discovery algorithm delivers excellent playlists each week tailored to your tastes. However, Spotify may not be available for everyone, and though its free version allows you to stream playlists and stations, it comes with ads....

The Windows Disk Management function, pictured above, allows Windows users to simply format and partition external drives. However, there are times when it simply doesn’t work very well. For example, the drive that you are trying to select for formatting may not be recognized by the utility, or it may be greyed out and not clickable. If you are unable to get a hard drive formatted or partitioned correctly using the built-in apps that are offered by Microsoft and Apple, then your next step may be to try and format the drive directly, using command line....

Face swapping was made possible thanks to the deepfake technology that can synthesize human images and videos. You can now use face swap apps to create funny images, GIFs, audio and video files to have fun with your friends and colleagues. 6 Best Face Swap Apps If you haven’t tried it yet, here are the best face swap apps that you can run on your smartphone or PC. Snapchat If you’re a Snapchat user, you don’t even have to download any extra apps to create funny face swap effects....

With that in mind, you’ll need to install a top-quality media player, capable of playing any type of file you throw at it. You don’t need to pay for the privilege, either, because here are 7 of the best free media players for Windows you can install today. Also, if you’d rather watch a video, make sure to check out the short one we posted to our YouTube channel here....

In this article, we’re going to move away from Windows laptops and Apple MacBooks to make way for the best Linux laptops in 2022. Below, you’ll find a couple of Linux laptops you’ve never heard of as well as some famous options that have been specifically built for optimal Linux performance. Additionally, we’re including a couple of Chromebooks on this list since ChromeOS is based on Linux and that means pure Linux distros will also perform well on them....

While you can quickly share the beautiful photos you took with your loved ones, you don’t want the whole world snooping in on the events in your life that only a select few should view. Fortunately, you can create photo albums online, upload your photos and share them with anyone on your contact list while keeping them private from random strangers. Whether you took photos at a family gathering, wedding, at church or a business function, we’ve listed the best ways to share photos privately with family or friends....

It’s worth noting that Incognito mode is not some way to browse the web securely or anonymously. For example, you can still be tracked online by your ISP, your employer or by the website you are visiting. In Incognito mode, cookies are not downloaded, but web sites can still see your IP address. In addition, you can still be infected by malware or spyware if you visit malicious sites. However, the ability to erase your browsing footprint on the local computer is a great feature and very useful for many occasions and situations....

Using machine-learning technology, Google offers a tool that lets you simply hum, whistle, or even sing a few bars and solve the mystery. Once Google recognizes your tune, you can not only see the title, but can explore details about the song, artist, lyrics, and more. How Google Hum to Search Works Building off of the Google Research team’s music recognition technology developed a few years ago and used in Now Playing on the Pixel 2, Hum to Search uses machine learning to identify a song....

Suspicious Payment Arrangements Avoid Massive Discounts You know the old saying: “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.” If you see a PlayStation 5 for sale for $50, ignore the temptation to click the link. If you receive anything at all after the purchase, it won’t be a PlayStation. Huge discounts on items that sell for much higher everywhere else indicate the seller is trying to coax you into an impulse buy....

If you want to make your Instagram stories stand out a little more, however, you could customize them by adding music. Instagram has the rights agreements with many major music labels, allowing you to directly add snippets of popular music to your Instagram stories with no rights issues to fret over. Here’s how to start adding music to your Instagram stories and make them more entertaining. How to Add Music to Instagram Stories Adding music to an Instagram story is a good way to create a more entertaining story for your followers....

This tutorial will show you how to add shortcuts to the Windows 11 and 10 Start Menu. We used a Windows 11 PC for this tutorial, but the steps apply to devices running Windows 10. Pin Apps or App Shortcuts to the Start Menu If an app shortcut or executable (.exe) file is on the desktop, right-click it and select Pin to Start. You can also add an item to the Start Menu from the File Explorer....

Why buy another casting device like a Chromecast when this feature is already embedded with the Roku TV streaming device? In this article, we’ll show you what you need to do to prepare your Roku TV and how to cast to Roku TV whatever you like. This feature works from a desktop PC, a laptop, a tablet, or a smartphone. Prepare Your Roku TV for Casting If you have a Roku TV connected to your TV, you’re ready to start casting right away....

However, a browser’s history can pose issues to your privacy. For example, if you share a desktop or mobile device with others (or if you’re worried about someone snooping around), you might want to clear it. In this article, you’ll learn how to clear browser history on five major browsers—Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, and Opera. Optionally, you can choose to delete additional forms of browsing data such as cached web content, site cookies, and autofill info to safeguard your privacy further....

Whichever product you start with, the installation and setup process is roughly the same. You’ll need to install the new Hue smart light bulbs, physically connect the bridge to your router, set up Philips Hue software on your Android or iPhone and/or your computer, and configure the smart bulbs. In this guide, we’ll step you through the entire process. Connect Philips Hue Lights Hardware Before you can set up the Philips Hue apps and start controlling the new lights via your Wi-Fi network, you’ll need to connect the Hue system, including the Philips Hue Bridge and the Philips Hue light bulbs....

Maybe you built a playlist of your own videos and now you want to download all of them to your computer? Or if you’ve found a collection of public domain videos, a YouTube playlist downloader would be helpful in saving all of them at once. Below are your best options for downloading multiple videos from YouTube at once, so long as they all exist in the same playlist. Important: Most videos on YouTube are protected by copyright laws....