Columbus, OH

The change only seems to apply to US devices for now. Samsung has reportedly announced that it will drop Samsung Messages as its default texting app in favor of Google Messages. The change affects the Galaxy Z Flip 6, Z Fold 6, and newer devices, but users can still download...

Goodbye, Samsung Messages: Google Messages to be new default on Galaxy phones

Are you getting a lot of spam text messages? It can get tiring to be interrupted by a notification on your iPhone, only to find it's yet another junk message. Like phishing emails, these messages are often the starting point for scammers targeting potential victims. These scammers may pose as marketers selling a product or as ordinary people trying to connect with a friend but pretending to have the wrong number.

How to stop spam texts on your iPhone in 3 easy steps

After two years of gentle nudging, Samsung now says that it will forcefully push customers toward the Google Messages app. New Galaxy smartphones, starting with the U.S. release of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Fold 6, will not come with Samsung Messages preinstalled. This is one of the final...

Say Goodbye to Samsung Messages

Starting next month, Google will require apps on the Play Store to provide a “stable, engaging, responsive user experience.” If they don’t, the company plans to eventually remove those apps from the store. This policy is part of Google’s latest spam policy update and is designed to...

Google is getting ready to remove lots of Android apps from the Play Store

DC News Now

To reduce unwanted calls, add your number to the national "Do Not Call" registry, only allow calls from your contacts, answer unwanted calls and remain silent to confuse the dialer software, or use an app like RoboKeller, Hiya, or Truecaller.

Never be bothered by a spam call again with this simple setting

Power stations -- think power banks, only much bigger -- are all the rage. They are essentially battery-powered inverter generators that can provide power to a variety of appliances and gadgets, making them perfect for camping, emergencies, and off-grid living. Problem is, they're expensive, so being able to grab a...

Excellent Jackery deals extended 48 hours: Power station prices slashed by up to 50%

New York City, NY

Writers represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. Writers are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

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Cheryl E Preston

Yesterday was the third time this year that an ad stating Chelsea Clinton lives in a beautiful Virginia home popped up on my laptop. My computer did not warn me this was a dangerous site, so this time, I clicked on the link.

Chelsea Clinton is rumored to be living in Virginia but probably still in NYC

North Carolina State

Community Voices represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program but not yet verified their accounts. Community Voices are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

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Town Talks

Can You Flash Your Headlights to Warn Other Drivers About Speed Traps?. Flashing headlights can serve as a signal to other drivers that law enforcement is nearby, often warning of speed traps or sobriety checkpoints.

Is it legal to flash your headlights to warn drivers of speed traps? What Drivers should now

Even though most modern Android phones come with a broad assortment of built-in ringtones — a Google Pixel with Android 14 offers 127 to choose from — you may prefer something a bit more specific to represent your personal style. Thankfully, customization is the name of the game in Android, and that extends to adding you own custom ringtones.

How to make a song your ringtone on an Android phone

If you're a Samsung phone user, the company is making a change you'll need to pay attention to. For the past two years, Samsung has been phasing out its Samsung Messages app in favor of Google Messages. Samsung's messaging app has continued to be available -- since the Galaxy S22 -- but Google's app was the default option.

Samsung Messages is getting bumped for Google's app. Here's how to prepare

Android Police

You can set your phone to make a brief noise or vibration every time a notification comes through. Like customizing your ringtone with your favorite song, you can pick unique notes and sounds for all your apps or a specific one. Our guide teaches you how to change the notification sound for the essential apps on your Android tablet or phone so that no Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy phone sounds the same in a busy hallway.

Android: How to add custom notification sounds for different apps

You might need Lockdown mode if you are concerned about theft or have confidential files on your Android phone. The feature removes biometric security, which can be fooled with high-quality images or replicas, and uses knowledge-based authentication (KBA) instead. No one can bypass your phone's security unless they know your personal identification number (PIN), password, or pattern. Learn why you should activate the mode for extra security on your device and how it works.

What is Lockdown mode, and why do you need it on Android?

Total Apex Sports & Entertainment

Do you know any self-righteous person who rarely apologizes? We all have different weaknesses and offend others once in a while. However, some zodiac signs’ pettiness and insecurity hinder them from seeking forgiveness when they cross someone’s path. Instead, they try to prove that they were right when they did something.

3 Zodiac Signs That Don’t Apologize

Coral Gables, FL

Edmond Thorne

Tragic End for South Florida Hispanic Building Tycoon Sergio Pino. Fort Lauderdale, FL - In a shocking turn of events, prominent South Florida homebuilder Sergio Pino was found dead in his Coral Gables home on Tuesday morning. The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that Pino died from an apparent suicide.

South Florida Tycoon Dead After FBI Raids on Homes and Office

SlashGear

The rise of online instant messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, iMessage, and Facebook Messenger has brought about several improvements and reasons to never look back to using traditional SMS. We take for granted things such as high definition media sharing, voice messaging, or even video calling on most of these platforms — these were all things that weren't possible through text messaging in the early days of cellphones.

Android User Guide: How To Recover Deleted Text Messages

Did you know that a modern TV uses significantly less energy than a TV that's a decade old? Maybe that shouldn't be a surprise, considering how much more power-efficient today's display panels are. According to Perch Energy, the average power consumption of an old TV runs around $54 per year in energy costs. Because LED-backlit TVs and OLEDs consume less power than traditional LCD screens, newer models cost about $32 annually.

I changed these 5 TV settings to lower my electric bill. Here's why they work

The Google Play Store has long been saddled with garbage apps that frustrate and annoy Android users. Now, Google is vowing to get tougher with apps that don't make the grade. In an update to its Spam and Minimum Functionality policy, Google said that it plans to apply new standards for apps to make sure they provide quality features and user experiences. Those standards are due to kick in starting on August 31, after which time the Google Play Store may find itself a few thousand apps lighter.

Google plans mass crackdown on Android apps that don't meet these new standards

BGR.com

Google has quietly started rolling out a big user interface redesign to Google Maps, although Android users will get it before it reaches the iPhone. This is the Google Maps UI update first spotted in beta testing in February. Google then unexpectedly paused work on it, only to return to testing the redesign in May.
As I said before, this Google Maps redesign will not roll back the colors to the original Google Maps palette you might still be missing. Instead, it cleans up the entire app experience, making the app easier and clearer to navigate.
I’m a longtime Google Maps user...

A big Google Maps redesign is rolling out now – see it here

Google Gemini is getting a little bit smarter thanks to a small change recently discovered by 9to5Google. The AI assistant will now answer “general questions” even if your Android device is locked. According to a Google support page, commands like “What’s the weather?” once required you to open...

Google Gemini is now a lot more helpful on Android phones

The US Sun

GOOGLE has unveiled an update that allows users to communicate with an AI assistant while their phones are locked. The company released its latest large language model, Google Gemini, in December. Gemini powers Google's chatbot, formerly named Bard, and is slowly being integrated into other services. The tool is available...

Google hands out AI freebie to millions of Android owners – it’s so useful but you’ll need to lock your phone to try it

NewsBreak

How 'bubbling' Android messages can simplify your text life

I have certain contacts whose messages I need to ensure I never miss. There are many ways of doing this but my go-to is to use...

How 'bubbling' Android messages can simplify your text life

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