How To

How to remove Facebook friends from your iPhone's contact list

Perhaps I'm slow, but just I noticed that all of my Facebook friends are now littered throughout my iPhone's contacts list. This change is a result of iOS 6's tighter integration with Facebook, so I've been living with it for a few months now. (In my defense, allow me to state that for most calls, I use the Favorites list, where Facebook contacts don't show up instead of the All Contacts list, where they do.)

If you have been living with a contacts list inundated with hundreds of Facebook friends, there is an easy fix. … Read more

Communicate with Messenger friends on Skype

On November 6, 2012, Microsoft announced that it would be discontinuing its Windows Live Messenger client. This news falls in line with Microsoft's acquisition of Skype -- making it the company's go-to instant-message client after the first quarter of 2013. Migrating to Skype will make video calling easier, allow you to share your screen, make group calls, integrate Facebook, and add better mobile compatibility.

Looking to get a head start on merging your contact lists so you don't risk missing anyone after Messenger is retired? Just follow these quick steps:

Before getting started, you'll need to … Read more

Find Android apps you don't use to free up space

Are you always looking for an app that does exactly what you want for a particular service? Like a Twitter client that displays everything the way you wish it would, or a specific kind of live wallpaper? You may install many of the options available, but then forget which ones you want to get rid of later.

For times like these, Useless Apps Remover is the only additional app you'll want to download -- until you make more room, that is.

Grab a copy of the app for your Android device and then open it after it finishes installing. … Read more

Alert those nearby of a missing pet with Lost Petz

A while back we urged you to install an iPhone app called Lost Kidz. Once installed, the app would alert you if a nearby parent had lost a child, providing critical details to ensure his or her safe return. And as a parent, for a yearly fee of $0.99, you could send out alerts should your child wander off and go missing.

With Hurricane Sandy having wreaked havoc through much of the northeast, and with thousands of pets and their owners having been separated, a similar app to help reunite owners with their lost companions will prove to be … Read more

Listen to notifications on Android with SpeakMe

Alerts on our connected Android devices can sometimes pick the worst moment to sound off. For instance, when you're in the middle of working with raw meat in the kitchen or carrying in 10 bags of groceries at once -- these are prime opportunities to get alerts... right? Yeah, not really. So why not just have your device read the alert to you? That's exactly what SpeakMe does.

The capability to read notifications out loud is available on most versions of Android. However, that option also reads each menu item, each action -- and everything in … Read more

Add an e-mail to the OS X Reminders app for easy follow-up

Did you know you can add an e-mail from OS X Mountain Lion's Mail app to the Reminders app with little effort? Instead of launching Reminders and typing in information you feel is important, you can use this quick shortcut to not only create a reminder, but link to the exact message you'll need later.

To add an e-mail to the Reminders app, you simply drag and drop it either directly into a Reminders list, or to the Reminders app icon in your Mac's dock. You'll need to click and drag from the header section of … Read more

Where to find Facebook's Most Recent feed in latest iOS update

Facebook released a big update to its iOS app today. Version 5.1 brings with it changes to Facebook Messenger, an improved photo upload process, and its new Facebook Gifts feature.

To reveal your Messenger contact list, you'll find a button at the top of the screen ready to take action. But wait, what button used to be there? Hmm...that's right! The button to change your feed from Most Popular to Most Recent.

To change between feeds, you'll need to tap on the button with three lines in the top-left corner of the Facebook app.

Next … Read more

Disable alerts at a specific time on your Galaxy Note II

Author note: This feature is available on most of the stock Samsung Android devices running 4.1.1 and higher. Thanks to the those who helped clear this up and sorry for the confusion.

There are lots of apps in the Google Play Store that can help you schedule some quiet time from your phone. However, if you're an owner of a Samsung device that received a Jelly Bean update (or you recently bought a Galaxy Note II), you have this feature built in with Blocking mode.

The benefit of using a stock feature over an app is … Read more

How to text a $10 donation to the Red Cross for Sandy disaster relief

Hurricane Sandy has moved on from the eastern United States, but relief efforts are just beginning. If you would like to help out, you can use your phone to make a $10 donation via text to the Red Cross.

To do so, text "Redcross" to 90999. You'll receive a reply, asking you to confirm by texting "yes."

You can also donate online at the American Red Cross Web site, and you can use iTunes to make a donation.