Try out these 6 tech tips, tricks –
Can’t figure out how to use your new tech toy? You’re not alone.
While you may have found a new phone, smart speaker, tablet or laptop under the tree this holiday season, you might be a little overwhelmed with all its features.
In fact, whether you’re tech-savvy or tech-shy, many of us stick to what we know and repeat those actions over and over, opposed to venturing a little outside our comfort zone.
That’s ok, of course, but should you want to learn a few tech tips and tricks – to help save you time, money and stress – we’ve got a half-dozen of ideas here for you, covering a wide range of popular products.
Shake to delete
Typing on your iPhone and want to undo what you just wrote? Just shake the darn thing.
Yep, enabled by default, you can quickly fix mistakes by shaking your iPhone side to side – and you’ll see a prompt to confirm you want to undo your action. It’s faster and easier than pressing and holding the backspace key until all of your text is deleted.
If you don’t like this “Shake to Undo” feature, you can turn it off by going to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Shake to Undo.
Multitask on an iPad
Multitasking on an iPad goes above and beyond having a small YouTube video playing in the corner of the screen while you browse the web.
Picture-in-picture is fine, but we’ve been able to do that for years. Apple, however, has added a couple of new ways to access m ore than one app at the same time.
Open an app, such as Mail or Safari and then tap the Multitasking button at the top of the screen, which looks like four little dots.
Now you can select either the Split View button or the Slide Over button. As the name suggests, Split View will split your screen into two windows, to access two apps side by the side, while Slider Over partially slides in, overlaid on your main app (about a third of the size), which you can move to the right or left side of your screen.
Hands-free selfie
Samsung Galaxy owners may not know about this handy way to initiate a selfie on the front-facing camera – and “handy” is the operative word.
Make your iPhone-owning friends jealous with this simple photo tip on Samsung Galaxy devices: when taking a selfie or group shot with the front-facing camera, show your palm to initiate the shutter, hands-free.
Whether you’re by yourself or in a group, if you can’t comfortably reach the touchscreen to initiate the shutter, simply open your hand and show your palm to the camera (no need to wave, unless you want to).
Doing this snaps your picture, hands-free. It’s a convenient and a fun party trick, too, as it may wow your non-Samsung friends. And yes, you will have a second or so to drop your palm out of the frame before the shutter is activated.
Hidden flight sim
You probably use Google Earth to look at our planet, but there’s also a secret way to fly around it!
As you’ll see in this tweet, those who download the free Google Earth Pro for Windows or Mac can unlock a hidden flight simulation.
Launch the software, press Ctrl + Alt + A (on a PC) or ⌘ + Option + A (on a Mac), then choose the desired aircraft. If you’re a novice, opt f or the Cirrus SR22, while experienced pilots may consider climbing into a F-16. Now select an airport to take off from, via the pull-down menu.
Need some help? Google has published a manual – of sorts – on how to fly the aircraft, reading the HUD (heads-up display), recommended places to visit and more.