Hacks

These easy DIY iPhone battery tricks will keep you powered up so much longer!

Jennifer Jolly · April 23, 2018

Battery drain issues never seem to go away. You get a new smartphone, it seems awesome for a little while, and then before you know it you’re back to barely making it through the day before it sputters to a stop. It’s an issue I’ve had with my last three iPhones, and I’ve gone to Apple for help many times. I did the typical troubleshooting — updated my phone, tweaked location settings and notifications, didn’t expose it to extreme ambient temperatures, and made sure my Wi-Fi was connected whenever possible — but none of the typical tricks fixed it. I was still dead in the water by two in the afternoon. IS “BATTERYGATE” TO BLAME? The drama surrounding Apple’s iPhone battery woes can ... Read more

YES! There is a way to stop those annoying robocalls!

Jennifer Jolly · April 23, 2018

My smartphone rings. It’s a number I don’t recognize. I ignore it and the caller leaves a message, “You will be taken under custody by the local cops,” says a robotic sounding female voice. “There are four serious allegations pressed on your name at this moment...” They leave a phone number to call back — or else. I know right away that it’s a scam, likely one of a half dozen calls I’ll get today. And it’s not even noon yet. This kind of frustrating little scenario played out more than three billion times in the month of March alone, according to the YouMail Robocall Index, at a cost of more than $9.5 billion annually to people who fall victim to phone scams. A new Harris Poll for ... Read more

HOW TO: Spring Clean Your Social Media Like a Pro

Jennifer Jolly · April 13, 2018

A dirty, unkempt, constantly cluttered house takes a toll on your health — according to dozens of scientific studies and experts. And just like piles of junk don’t do your physical or mental health any favors, neither does a messy social media life. “Most of us are both addicted to social media and fatigued by it at the same time,” says Amy Jo Martin, a best-selling author named the third most powerful woman on Twitter. “It's important to reset our habits and patterns around social media.” Considering that most of us will spend more than five years of our lives scanning social media, it’s as important a place as any these days to do some serious Spring cleaning. Here’s how to deep clean, ... Read more

Here’s every privacy related update Facebook’s made so far – in one place:

Jennifer Jolly · April 10, 2018

Here's a look at all of Facebook's recent privacy changes and updates, in one place, with working links. We will continue to update this list and Facebook rolls out more changes. Updated their terms of service to be easier to understand https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2018/04/terms-and-data-policy/ Turned off data access for unused apps https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2018/03/cracking-down-on-platform-abuse/ Restricted Facebook login data for apps https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2018/03/cracking-down-on-platform-abuse/ Made data settings and tools easier to find (privacy shortcuts) ... Read more

5 Handy hacks for your favorite websites — Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and more!

Jennifer Jolly · April 10, 2018

Browsing your favorite sites on the web is super easy thanks to bookmarks and shortcuts, but sometimes the "normal" way of using a site just isn't the best way. There are all kinds of cool little tricks you can do with URLs to get certain websites to act just the way you want, and some of them are so freaking easy that you might just kick yourself for not using them sooner. View full-sized Instagram images I adore Instagram both on my phone and on the web, but it's very strict about how it lets you see photos. There's no button or quick link to see the original version of a photo — the biggest, sharpest version — but a quick bit of URL magic saves the day. Here's how to do it: Go ... Read more

HOW TO: Find out right now if your data was shared with Cambridge Analytica

Jennifer Jolly · April 10, 2018

Want to see if your Facebook data was shared with Cambridge Analytica? Find out via a dedicated link. Facebook posted a new link to its Help Center today to let all 2.2 million people who use the social site know whether they've been breached. Here's what it says when I open the page: You might also get a notification that looks like the image on the left or right below: NOW WHAT? No matter what -- be sure to go through all the 3rd party apps you've signed into using Facebook. On a desktop: Click the question mark in the upper right corner and go down to Privacy Checkup From there, scroll down to Apps to review everything connected to your account. Edit who sees ... Read more

HOW TO: File your taxes faster, get last minute-help and track your refunds

Jennifer Jolly · April 6, 2018

The April 17 tax deadline is looming. As the mad dash to file draws nears, there is some new technology to help make this potentially stressful task incredibly simple — yes, even for those filing last minute. Here's a look at some options: Free filing If you made less than $66,000 in 2017 and have a simple return, the government makes it easy to file online, for free. The Internal Revenue Service's "Free File" preparation and filing software guides you through the process. You can sign your return electronically and track the progress of your refund, all for no cost. According to the IRS, 70% of all taxpayers — about 100 million people — are eligible to file using the Free File ... Read more

Amazon (and Alexa) know a whole lot about you. Here’s how to download and delete that info.

Jennifer Jolly · April 6, 2018

It's not just Facebook and Google that have loads of our personal data. There's also Amazon. The company isn’t only the most popular Internet retailer in the country but it also dishes up content (via Amazon Prime Video, Audible and the Kindle library); runs a successful cloud platform for businesses (Amazon Web Services); sells devices like tablets, Kindle e-readers, set-top boxes and streaming sticks; and lets you access a personal assistant via Alexa-powered speakers and screens. It took the Cambridge Analytica scandal – the unauthorized access of Facebook user data from as many as 87 million accounts — to shine a bright spotlight on how much personal data we’re (over)sharing, and ... Read more

Spring Clean Your Social Apps: Taming Twitter

Jennifer Jolly · April 3, 2018

Twitter is a whole other beast. I really can’t quite get over the fact Twitter doesn’t have an edit button. Still, it’s my favorite chosen place to follow the musings of some of the brightest people in the world and it remains the best place to follow for breaking news. But there’s a whole lot of other junk in there too now. “When you go into a house that has tons of clutter, how does that make you feel,” asks Dr. Eva Selhub, physician, author, speaker, and executive coach. She suggests blocking Twitter clutter at the source, “Clean up who is coming on your posts, the information that’s coming through to you. Is it lifting you up or bringing you down?” Twitter’s built-in “Mute” feature is ... Read more

These awesome apps will help you save tons of money on Spring Break

Jennifer Jolly · March 26, 2018

I have a major case of cabin fever this year — and I live in Northern California. I really can't imagine what folks in snowy states are going through right about now. (Well, I can imagine it, because I grew up in Alaska...) As spring fever takes its hold, dreams of sandy beaches, sunny skies, and sweet umbrella drinks are now fueling my favorite procrastination activity: Spring Break planning! But money's tight this year, so here are the five apps I'm taking on my trip to have a blast and still save a ton of cash. Hopper Hopper's an airfare forecasting app that predicts when to book your flight for the best available price. After you select your dates and destination, Hopper's ... Read more

Here’s how to see which apps have access to your Facebook data — and ditch them quick

Jennifer Jolly · March 23, 2018

I’ve spent much of this week getting you caught up on the privacy scandal Facebook is currently neck-deep in. It’s big news, so make sure you’re caught up. Today, let’s take a deep dive into the heart of the problem: third-party apps. Here’s a simple breakdown: Lots of apps, websites, and services use Facebook logins to connect you, but when you agree to log in using those apps, you’re usually also handing over permission to access your private info. Apps can see a ton of information about you, such as who you’re friends with, your favorite Facebook groups, and more. Facebook app permissions never expire, so if you agreed to them years ago, they could still see your data until you ... Read more

How to browse all the information Facebook has about you

Jennifer Jolly · March 22, 2018

Facebook has been making lots of headlines this week, and for all the wrong reasons. The company is in hot water for the unauthorized use of user information on its advertising platform, and everyone seems to be asking "Does Facebook know too much?" Over the years, you've told Facebook a whole lot about you — from what kinds of music you like and what apps you use to your job history and favorite places to visit — and now's a perfect time examine just how much info you've handed over. Thankfully, Facebook makes it pretty easy to browse all of the stuff you've given it over the years; you just have to know where to find it. Download Your Facebook Archive A simple tool in Facebook's ... Read more

HOW TO: Use Micro-Investing Apps like Acorns, Stash, and Robinhood without losing money or your sanity

Jennifer Jolly · March 18, 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgJn5bT_5uk A host of new micro-investing apps including Robinhood, Acorns, and Stash, make it easier than ever to invest on the go — with zero experience and little more than pocket-change to pony-up. Is that a good thing in a fluctuating market? It all depends — on who you ask, what you’re after — and even how addicted you are to your smartphone. THE BACKSTORY I decided to try out a few of these apps after my 26-year old stepson sent me an automated text from stock brokerage app, Robinhood, which lets you buy and sell individual stocks for $0 a trade. ‘Sign up now, and get a free stock,’ the text read. So, I did. I downloaded the app on my iPhone, ... Read more

HOW TO: Use peer-to-peer payment apps without getting ripped off

Jennifer Jolly · March 18, 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI8DiGuOygw If you’re like more than half of American these days, you’re likely using a peer-to-peer payment platform like Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, to name a few, to send someone cash with the tap of an app. I’ve used them to split the bill at dinner, pay my mom back for an impromptu clothes shopping spree, and divvy-up class project costs for kids. It saves the hassle of stopping off at an ATM every time you go out, the risk of walking around with a wad of cash in your wallet, or eyerolls of telling someone, “the check’s in the mail.” The use of these apps is growing. Nearly 60% of people in the U.S. use them, and that number rises close to 80% for young ... Read more