5 ways your gadgets can find photos or turn notes into text and more.
If you’ve ever wandered into a hot parking lot looking for your car, I’ll love you for this tip.
The next time you park, open Google Maps, tap blue dot showing your location, and select Set as parking location. Easy, isn’t it? Tap or click for a buried Google Maps security setting that you need to change now.
These little tricks of technology can make you think, “Why didn’t anyone tell me that earlier?” I did! Tap or click 10 useful iPhone and Android cheats that will make your life easier.
In the spirit of living a better digital life, here are five smart ways you can use your gadgets to cure some of life’s small hassles. It’s also fun to share with friends and family. Just think how impressed they are.
Problem: You’re hurt by the announcements but you don’t want to forget what’s important
If you have mobile notifications in every email you receive, you know how annoying all the buzz and beep can be. Maybe you switched everything off.
Did you know that you can turn on alerts and sounds only for important emails? Let me show you how, using Gmail as an example.
Follow these steps on your iPhone, iPad, or Android:
• First, open Gmail app.
• Tap three line menuthen scroll down to Settings.
• Select your account.
• Then, tap Email notifications. selection High priority only.
How does Gmail decide what is a high priority? It makes the best prediction based on your behavior. You can help artificial intelligence to make it more accurate.
On mobile:
• Open an email at Gmail app. Tap three dot menu in the upper right corner.
• Tap Mark important.
On desktop:
• Open Gmail. In your inbox, you’ll see a small arrow next to each email. If you can’t see the arrow, you’ll see a star. Click arrow or star so that it becomes yellow. This shows that email is important.
• On the other hand, if the arrow or star is yellow in an unimportant email, click the arrow to show Gmail that you don’t see the email as a high priority.
Think your inbox is private? Not good news. Secret trackers are hidden within many popular and free email providers. Tap or click here for secret advertisers who don’t want you to know.
Problem: You can’t see your favorite vacation photos
We already have it all. You’ve been scrolling too long to find a photo that you know is on your phone. Face recognition, sight and object detection, and AI make finding what you want a quest.
On an iPhone:
• Open Photos app and tap magnifying glass icon in the lower right corner.
• Enter the name of a place, a person (if you assigned them to the Photos app), or a search term. You can also search by month or year, category, or business name.
Do the same steps with the Android photo app. Again, play around with different names, places, events, and objects.
• Open Gallery appthen tap magnifying glass icon near the top.
• Enter your search term to display matches.
If you use Google Photos, its search features are also powerful.
• Open Google Photos app.
• Select a person or pet, view places or objects, or even browse by category, such as screenshots, selfies, and videos.
• To search for a specific item, type it in the search bar at the top of the page. The results will pop up, probably before you finish typing.
HIYOM! Proven ways to look more beautiful with selfies and group photos
Problem: You take out your phone, only to find that it is still a scammer
I love this tip. I set it up myself recently to see who was calling without taking my phone out of my pocket, no need for a smartwatch.
You know you can assign ringtones to specific contacts, but you can also set unique vibration patterns. That means you can tell who is calling just by the ringing pattern.
On an iPhone:
• Launch your Phone app and tap Contacts. Then, select a contact from the list.
• In the upper right corner of the screen, tap Edit.
• Naigo Ringtone if you want the phone to vibrate or Text Tone if you want vibrations for texts.
• Next, tap Tremor. Under the Standard list, select Vibration.
• To go back, tap Ringtone or Text Tone.
• Tap accomplished twice to finish.
If you have Android, you need a third-party app to do this. Buzzkill was thoroughly reviewed, but it cost $ 2.49. On the bright side, it doesn’t connect to the internet, so your data won’t leave your device.
Another useful feature: You can set up Buzzkill to notify you only once when someone texts you multiple times in a row. It’s cold.
Problem: You hung another frame crookedly on the wall
If you need to hang a photo, you don’t have to get a level – it can be on your phone for you.
On an iPhone:
• Open Measurement appthen tap levels in the lower right.
• The level appears on the screen and is ready to use.
On Android:
• Open Google app or your browser and search for “bubble level. ”
• Use it as you would on a normal level, put it on top.
Doing a home improvement project? Tap or click for 7 apps that will help you get your DIY work done.
Problem: You’re wasting time typing handwritten notes
Sometimes it’s easier to write something by hand-but it’s a pain to type everything if you want to edit or send it digitally. Here’s the easier way: Use the free Google Lens app.
It makes your handwriting become text in front of your eyes. Google Lens is great. Tap or click here for direct links to download and more useful features.
If you don’t like using Google products, check out the Evernote app or Microsoft’s OneNote. Both allow you to take a picture of your writing so you can edit it all.
The caveat, of course: If your handwriting isn’t very readable, the apps won’t work. If you have a written chicken, voice dictation can also save you from typing. Tap or click for pro tips for better results in Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
PODCAST PICK:AirTag travel hack, protect Alexa privacy, texting tricks
Someone found his lost luggage thanks to an Apple AirTag. I’ll tell you how these trackers can help you, along with how you can use Apple’s new self-service repair program. Plus, you’ll soon see Prime delivery in all sorts of online stores. Here’s why. You’ll also learn a Google privacy trick, why stores open in the physical metaverse and more.
Check out my podcast “Kim Command Now” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.
Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just look for my last name, “Command.”
Learn about all the latest technology at the Kim Komando Show, the largest weekend radio talk show in the country. Kim receives calls and provides advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For his daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit his website at Komando.com.
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.
