TechWiser - Trending Tech News

7 Best Apps for Your Galaxy Z Flip 6 Cover Screen

Posted on August 27, 2024August 27, 2024 by Ritik Singh

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 has the same 3.4-inch cover screen as its predecessor, the Z Flip 5. On it, you can check and reply to notifications, take calls, control music, capture selfies, and access different widgets without opening your phone. However, to truly get the most out of it, you’ll want to run more apps on the cover screen. I’ve tested the phone extensively, and here are the best apps to use on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 cover screen.

If you have an older Flip like the Z Flip 5 or 4, don’t worry. Most of these apps will work on those phones too.

1. Good Lock

On your Galaxy Z Flip 6, head over to Settings > Advanced features > Labs > Apps allowed on cover screen to let more apps run on that handy little cover screen. This opens up the cover screen to Maps, Messages, WhatsApp, and YouTube. But, if you want to go all out and use even more apps there, you’ll need to get into Good Lock modules.

In our previous article, I showed you how to essentially run any app on your Galaxy Z Flip 6’s cover display. It all revolves around using the MultiStar module to create a Good Lock launcher widget. Once added, you can access this widget with all your app icons by swiping left on the cover screen.

If you have a Z Flip 6 or even the older Flip 5, I highly recommend giving this a try. If Good Lock isn’t available in your region, you can download NiceLock or Fine Lock (from the Play Store) and manually sideload the MultiStar APK from the web.

Download: Good Lock

2. CoverScreen OS

Cover Screen OS is another app I mentioned earlier. It simulates a complete secondary OS on your phone’s outer display, with its own navigation system. It also lets you open any app on your phone directly from the cover screen. Simply swipe up, and that will open the app screen, just like on the inner display.

Swipe down on the center of the home screen to open media controls (for currently playing content), swipe down from the top to open the quick settings panel, swipe left to access notifications, and swipe right to check your widgets.

You can also explore other features like edge lighting, changing the app drawer grid size, and continuing to use the same apps on your main screen when you open the phone, but most of these are paid features. That said, you’ll likely be quite happy with what the free version offers.

Download: CoverScreen OS

3. SamSprung TooUI

SamsSprung TooUI is a third-party launcher for your Z Flip cover screen. It brings apps, notifications, widgets, quick toggles, voice-activated launch, animated wallpapers, and more to the outer display. Download it from Google Play, open it, and grant the necessary permissions. Then, close your Flip phone and tap the Power button.

You’ll see the app icon in the bottom right. Tap it to open a full app drawer. You’ll see the time in the bottom right and the battery percentage in the bottom left. There’s also a search bar to manually search for apps. Swipe left on the app drawer to see your notifications. Tap the quick settings tile at the bottom and you can turn on/off flashlight, portrait lock, toggle DND, sound, WiFi, and Bluetooth.

The interface will likely remind you of those early Android third-party launchers that tried to mimic a desktop-like UI on phones (think of the old Windows Start menu). While I’d still prefer Cover Screen OS app over this, remember it’s free and yet offers plenty of customization options like app grid size, wallpaper, and more. So try both and find out what matches your taste.

Download: SamSprung TooUI

4. Kindle

I enjoy reading physical books when I have the time, but when I’m traveling and need something to read, I usually turn to the Kindle app. And let me tell you, it works great on the Galaxy Z Flip 6’s cover screen.

You can easily read the text with a large font; usually, one or two paragraphs fit on the small screen, but the next one is just a swipe away. I personally love reading this way. That said, comic books don’t work as well because you have to zoom in on them, but books with text are perfect.

If you’re into ebooks, definitely give Kindle a try on your Galaxy Z Flip 6 or 5’s cover screen. And yes, you’ll have to use the Good Lock method to get it onto the cover display.

Download: Kindle

5. Shazam

Shazam helps you identify music playing around you. So if you like a song playing at a bar, club, or nearby, you can quickly open Shazam, and it will tell you the name of the song. It works well on your Galaxy Z Flip 6’s cover display too.

Just add the app to the Good Lock launcher or open it using Cover Screen OS and tap the Shazam button to start identifying music. You don’t have to flip open your phone for this. While you can also use the Pixel’s Now Playing mod for the same, it’s just easier this way.

Download: Shazam

6. Mini Games for Flip Screen

Okay, let’s circle back to Good Lock for a moment. It turns out Samsung has designed a few mini-games specifically for the Z Flip 6 and Flip 5’s cover screen, and you can access them using the MultiStar module.

Simply open MultiStar, tap on I Love Galaxy Foldable > Game Widget, and select all the games you’d like to play. Then, tap Enable Game Widget. Choose MultiStar from the list and add the Game Launcher widget to your home screen.

Now, close your phone and unlock the cover display. Swipe left until you see the game launcher widget. And there you have it! You’re now ready to play any of the following games right on your Galaxy Z Flip 6 or 5 cover screen:

Stack Bounce
Tiger Run
Golf Adventures
Retro Drift
Cake Slice Ninja
Carrom Clash
Color Burst
Daily Solitaire
CubeTower
Moving
Northern Heights
Pin the UFO

7. PizzaBoy Emulator

Your Flip 6’s outer display can also double as a mini retro gaming console. To play Game Boy games on your Flip, simply download an emulator and find ROM files (game files) to run on it. I’ll be using the free version of the PizzaBoy emulator, but you’re welcome to use any other compatible emulator. Just get an emulator that can run the games you want to play.

To get started:

Download PizzaBoy emulator from Play Store onto your Galaxy Z Flip 6. (Add it to your Good Lock launcher so you can launch it from the cover screen).
Download the ROM files for the games you want to play. Remember, PizzaBoy can play Game Boy Advance games, so I’ll be downloading those ROMs from the web (for example, Super Mario).
Create a folder on your phone’s internal storage and move the ROMs there.
Open the emulator and load the ROM file from the folder. The game should start.

By default, the game will open in a small window on your Flip 6’s cover screen. To enlarge it, tap the bottom left corner and use the on-screen buttons to resize it. You can also reposition the window anywhere on the screen. In fact, you can even play in landscape mode.

Download: PizzaBoy Emulator

Besides the apps I mentioned, there are plenty of other cool ways to use your Flip’s cover screen. You can control your smart home gadgets with Google Home or Samsung SmartThings, start navigation in Google Maps and save battery with the smaller display, play your favorite tunes on Spotify or YouTube Music, watch Netflix or YouTube videos on a mini-screen, scroll Reddit, and even check in on your security cameras at home or work. And of course, you can use WhatsApp or Messenger to quickly see and reply to messages without having to flip open your phone.

Top 5 Reasons to Upgrade to Galaxy Z Flip 6

You Can Make the Red X Button Quit Apps on Mac

Posted on August 5, 2024August 6, 2024 by Ravi Teja KNTS

On Mac, when you click the red button in the top-left corner of an app window to close the app, it doesn’t shut completely. Instead, it just closes that specific window and the app continues to run in the background. Take a look at the bottom of the screen and you’ll notice a black dot under the icons indicating that those apps are still active in the background. That interface behavior of not completely closing the app is quite confusing, especially for those who transition from Windows.

Also, some apps like Prime Video or the App Store quit instantly when you click the red close button on the top-right of the respective windows. Luckily, you can command the x button to close every app completely whenever you click on it. While Apple doesn’t offer any native option or setting to apply close behavior to all apps or browser windows, you’ll have to resort to using third-party apps. We found a couple of amazing apps that ensure clicking the red x button closes the relevant app entirely.

1. Red Quits

The Red Quits app stands true to its name but only quits the app if it is the last window open. For example, if you have multiple Chrome windows open and close one, Chrome will not quit unless it is the last Chrome window. Note that the Red Quits app can’t overpower select macOS native apps like Finder because they are essential for your Mac to function properly. After you install the app, it loads every time you boot your Mac, and helps you change the red x button’s behavior.

While not optimized for M-series chips, it worked fine on our M1-series MacBook Air. However, the app may stop when Apple ceases Rosetta’s support. With that in mind, here’s how to make the red button close apps with Red Quits.

1. Grab the Red Quits file on your Mac, open the downloaded file, and continue the Installation process.

Download Red Quits

2. Once installed, open the app and enable all three checkboxes:

Automatically start after login
Work only when 1 window is open
Activate the app

3. Open System Settings > Privacy and Security > Accessibility and turn on the toggle beside the Red Quits app.

The app will start working. You won’t see the Red Quits app icon in the dock as it works in the background. To change any settings later, you can open the app from the Applications folder in Finder or using Spotlight.

2. Swift Quit

If you prefer an app that you can be sure will work in the future, Swift Quit is a great alternative. On the plus side, Swift Quit supports all the features of Red Quits and allows you to create a custom list of apps that you want to quit when you click on the red x button. Additionally, it is optimized for M-series chips and works without Rosetta support. However, the app can be inconsistent at times. There can also be a delay of 5-10 seconds between closing the window and actually quitting the app. The developers are currently active, so these issues may be fixed in future updates.

1. Get the Swift Quit app from the app’s official site.

Download Swift Quit

2. Open the downloaded zip file and move the app icon to the Applications folder to install it.

3. Next, open System Settings > Privacy and Security > Accessibility.

4. Click on the plus icon and select the Swift Quit app from the Applications folder.

5. To open the app, click on the bird icon in the menu bar in the top-right corner and select Settings.

6. Enable the toggles beside the Start Swift Quit Automatically option and customize which apps the feature should work on if you have any preferences.

After that, the app will start working. Again, you will not see the app’s icon in the dock for it starts automatically when you boot your Mac and works in the background.

Choose A Suitable Option

It’s entirely up to you to choose an app that closes all windows or one that lets you customize the apps you wish to close completely whenever you hit the red X button. We found the Swift Quit app quite helpful in closing our frequently used apps entirely.

Missing Windows Features on Mac? These 8 Apps Can Help

Posted on May 29, 2024May 29, 2024 by Ravi Teja KNTS

Have you dropped the scary blue screen for a glowing Apple logo? You might have switched from Windows to Mac for better productivity or the Apple ecosystem. Arguably, Windows is better at certain things like grouping windows and keyboard shortcuts. It’s natural to miss those things on Mac. If you also prefer the Windows style of doing such tasks like me, here are a few Mac apps that I use to make it behave more like Windows.

1. AltTab

On a Mac, switching between apps with the Command + Tab keyboard shortcut only shows app icons but not their previews. Also, you won’t see multiple open windows of the same app. That’s not helpful when you have a few Chrome windows open. There’s no indication of which window will open upon clicking the icon.

AltTab app brings back the familiar Alt + Tab keyboard shortcut behavior on Windows. With that, you can see all the open windows and switch to the exact one.

Download: AltTab

2. MiddleClick

Clicking the scroll wheel (middle click) on your mouse lets you close tabs or open links in new tabs on Windows. Mac’s trackpad and Magic Mouse lack this functionality. To replicate that on Mac, you can use the MiddleClick app. It lets you se a three-finger tap gesture to mimic middle-click using a trackpad.

Download: MiddleClick

3. Maccy

Unlike Windows, which has a built-in clipboard history, Mac doesn’t show a clipboard history of text and things you’ve copied. Apparently, macOS replaces the last item in the clipboard. Fortunately, there’s a way to view everything you copied earlier with Maccy.

Maccy shows your clipboard history with a simple keyboard shortcut. Thus you can copy multiple items without the fear of losing older ones. It can store up to 50 items including images. The app costs $9.99 from the App Store, but you can install it free from the Maccy website.

Download: Maccy

4. Rectangle

To snap windows on Mac, you need to press and hold Option button, hover over the green button, and select the desired position. There are no keyboard shortcuts or trackpad gestures that lat you do that minimal effort.

Rectangle lets you snap windows just like a Windows computer. Select and move the window to a corner of the screen, and it’ll snap into place. You can even set keyboard shortcuts for faster snapping.

Download: Rectangle

Magnet is another alternative and it costs $4.99.

5. RedQuits

Clicking the red button on Mac only closes the window, not the app. To really quit, go to the app menu or use Command + Q keyboard shortcut.

Want it to quit like on Windows? Install RedQuits. It makes the red button quit the app, but only when it’s the last open window. With multiple windows, it just closes that specific window. Basically, RedQuits turns the red x button on windows to close an app or window entirely instead of minimizing it.

Download: RedQuits

6. Command X

Cutting and pasting files on a Mac is confusing. Unlike text, you cannot cut files with Command + X keyboard shortcut. Instead, you need to copy (Command + C) and then paste (Option + Command + V) using a three-button shortcut to move the file.

The Command X app removes this confusion. Once installed, you can simply cut the file with the Command + X keyboard shortcutand then paste it with a familiar Command + V keyboard shortcut.

Download: Command X

7. Linear Mouse

Your mouse doesn’t move exactly the same distance on the screen as your hand. Moving your mouse quickly makes the cursor jump further away. This is because of Mouse acceleration is enabled Windows and Mac by default. However, this can be an issue for tasks like designing and gaming.

While you can turn it off on Windows from the Control Panel, Mac does not offer such an option. You either have to turn off mouse acceleration using Terminal or you can do it with the help of the Linear Mouse app.

Download: Linear Mouse

You can also check out the Mos app for more mouse customization.

8. Better Touch Tool

Want your Mac to work even more like Windows? Better Touch Tool can help. This app lets you customize everything from keyboard shortcuts and trackpad gestures to window snapping and navigation controls.

Here’s what you can do with BTT:

Make the close button actually quit the application completely (like Windows).
Change keyboard shortcuts to match what you’re used to on Windows.
Set up trackpad gestures you already know.
Snap windows to the sides of your screen for easy multitasking (ditch that Rectangle app).
Manage your clipboard history (no need for Maccy).

Better Touch Tool isn’t free, but it’s a one-time purchase. Get a standard license with 2 years of updates for $10, or a lifetime license for $21. Also, the app needs a learning curve to get started.

Download: Better Touch Tool

Windows Experience on Mac

While the switch from Windows to Mac can be drastics, there are plenty of apps that make you feel like home again. However, those features may not emit the exact behavior as on Windows. The above apps helped me to get back on track while using Mac. Let me know which apps you use to make the switch to Mac easier.

You can also check out these Mac tips for the Windows Switchers to make your Mac feel like home.

3 Best Free T9 Dialer Apps for iPhone (No Ads)

Posted on May 24, 2024May 23, 2024 by Ritik Singh

T9 dialing, also known as Text on 9 keys, lets you find contacts by tapping the numbers that match the letter of the names. Standard in older keypad phones, the iPhones don’t have it. Of course, you can open Contacts app and Spotlight search works, but that involves switching between apps and interfaces. Missing the T9 dialer from older phones gravely, I wanted to recreate a similar experience on iPhone. So I tested over a dozen T9 dialer apps for iPhone and curated a list of the best ones out there.

Update: Apple added T9 dialing to its Phone app with iOS 18 update. If your iPhone runs iOS 18 or later, you can search contacts directly by typing letters in the Phone app. Older versions can still use third-party apps for this feature.

Here’s How T9 Dialing Works

Before you hop onto the list, take a look at how T9 dialing works – in case you have forgotten or don’t know entirely. When you open your dialer, you’ll find nine keys (from 1 to 9). Each number key has 3-4 letters. For example, the number 2 key has the letters A, B, and C.

To enter a name, you must press the number key corresponding to the desired letter. For example, to search for MIKE, you would press 6 (for M), 4 (for I), 5 (for K), and 3 (for E). Or to search for DAD, you’d press 3 (for D), 2 (for A), and then 3 again (for the second D).

Your phone cross references the number you’re typing (the times you press a button) with the corresponding letter. It then tries to match it with a name on your contact list. If it’s a common spelling, you’ll find the contact name quickly. In some cases, your phone might show you multiple names if contacts with same or similar names exist.

Here’s why you need to use T9 dialing on your iPhone:

It’s faster than entering phone numbers with individual digits.
It’s more convenient than opening Contacts and searching for a contact or scrolling through a long list.
Also, Siri and Spotlight search may not always fetch the right contact (if there are multiple contacts with the same name) and you’ll have to specify the contact’s full name.

Ready to try T9 dialing? Here are a few T9 dialer apps you can choose from for your iPhone. Dialing is a two-step process due to iOS restrictions. You’ll tap the dial button in the app, then confirm the call on the iPhone pop-up.

1. Drupe – Caller ID & Dialer

Drupe is an all-in-one dialer app available for iPhone and Android. It offers a smooth T9 dialing along with caller identification and speed dial support.

You get shortcuts to SMS, FaceTime, WhatsApp, and email – all from the contact page. You can also directly share your location, and add reminders or calendar events for a contact from within the app.

Drupe even helps you manage your contacts by merging duplicates, and lets you personalize your experience with over 20 built-in themes. Plus, it’s free to use, with no ads. The only caveat – you’ll need to sign in with Apple ID or Google account to start using the app.

Download: Drupe Dialer for iPhone

2. One Dialer

One Dialer is a straightforward T9 dialer. Open the app and the dialer is ready for search (T9 works flawlessly). There is a choice of three different dialer themes – one looks similar to iPhone’s dialer, the other one resembles Samsung, and the third one is a full-fledged qwerty keyboard dialer.

You can change the app theme to 16 different colors. It also gives you a nice subtle haptic feedback when dialing numbers. It’s free without any ads.

Download: OneDialer for iPhone

3. T9 Speed Dialer

T9 Speed Dialer is all about quickly dialing a contact. When you open the app, you’ll see your contact list on the main screen, with the dialer at the bottom. You can either scroll through the list or tap the numbers on the dialer to run a T9 search. There’s also a handy shortcut to add a new contact on this screen.

Speed Dialer can show contact avatars and you can enable/disable dialpad sounds. It’s an ad-free app and requires no subscription or premium pack. There’s a neat privacy note in settings promising the app does not share your contacts data with anyone.

Download: T9 Speed Dialer for iPhone

Dial in a Flash

The above dialer apps should make it a breeze for you to find and dial contacts quickly. Besides the ones above, I also found two other noteworthy T9 dialer apps for iPhone:

T9 Dialer: Boasts a user-friendly interface, but the free version displays ads.
T9 Dial: You get a one-handed dial pad and customizable swipe options, but is riddled with ads.

And for those wondering why your iPhone dialer has letters on the number keys even though you can’t search contacts using them, the reason is simple: many companies use phone numbers that spell out words or phrases. For example, a plumbing company might have the number 1-800-PLUMBER (1-800-758-6237). The letters on the dialpad make it easier for people to remember the number by associating it with the letters.

Perplexity AI: 3 Alternatives That Are Equally Good or Better

Posted on April 17, 2024April 17, 2024 by Ritik Singh

Okay, Perplexity Al fans, I get the hype! It’s awesome for those quick answers with sources. But let’s be honest, sometimes you want to switch things up – maybe get a more creative answer or deeper details. With Perplexity hitting over 10 million users, I knew there had to be other cool Al search options out there. With that in mind, I went on a testing spree and found some seriously impressive Perplexity alternatives. Here’s what I found.

Before we dive in, here’s a quick overview of these AI tools and how they compare to Perplexity:

	Perplexity	Arc Search	You.com AI	Monica AI

Free Version	GPT-3.5	OpenAI’s APIs	YouBot with GPT-3	GPT-3
Paid Version	GPT-4 and Claude 2	–	GPT-4, Claude, Gemini Pro, Zephyr	GPT-4, Claude 3, Gemini
Image Generation	Only on Pro	No	10 with free, Unlimited on Pro	19 with free, 200 on Pro
Additional Features	Perplexity Copilot, File uploads	Ad and tracker blocker, Auto-archive inactive tabs	Genius, Research, and GPT-4 modes	AI Translator
Pricing	$20/month or $200 annually	–	$20/month or $180 annually	Starts at $9.9/month or $99 annually

1. Arc Search (iOS Only)

Highlight: Uses OpenAI’s APIs for the “Browse for Me” feature.

You might’ve heard about the Arc Browser with features like sidebars and tab spaces that make working on your desktop smoother. Arc Search, from the same company, does something different – it changes how you browse on your iPhone.

The app starts with a search bar and an open keyboard. Type something, tap Browse for Me, and it’ll scan different websites for your query, creating a neat little summary page. You’ll find a bulleted overview at the top and a detailed breakdown along with the source links for further exploration.

For example, when you search for “best phones in 2024,” Arc scans multiple websites and shows you a list of awesome phones to choose from. I love that I can get a quick summary of each phone at the top, followed by key highlights (like price, camera, performance, etc.) and links to dive deeper. It’s like bullet points, images, emojis – thankfully, I encountered no annoying ads or pop-ups.

In comparison, Perplexity gives you a basic answer with hardly any details about what makes a phone great. It even throws in that generic chatbot advice about how the best phone depends on your needs and budget. But hey, at least you can ask follow-up questions, a feature Arc doesn’t have yet.

Coming back to Arc Search, the haptics are nice, and you can quickly switch between tabs with the button on the bottom left. Honestly, I feel every iPhone user should give it a shot. It’s so good, that you might just forget about Perplexity… at least for a while.

Download Arc Search for iPhone

2. YouChat (You.com AI Search)

AI models used: YouBot with GPT-3 (free), GPT-4, Claude 3 Opus, Gemini Pro, and Zephyr.

YouChat is an AI search tool that goes way beyond simple web searches. A part of the You.com AI search engine, YouChat gives you a chatbot to ask questions, get summaries, and follow up on the answers.

The free version uses in-house YouBot with only GPT-3 while the YouPro subscription brings GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, and other models. Both free and paid versions are connected to the internet for up-to-date knowledge.

YouChat is similar to Perplexity in a lot of aspects. While I’m not a fan of its bland interface, where it differs is in its answers. YouChat aims to provide a range of possible answers or interpretations, giving you more options. Perplexity focuses on pinpointing a single, highly probable “correct” answer.

With the free version, you can write stories and emails, search the web, check in on news, and more. Here are some examples of what you can ask it:

“Write an email to reschedule my doctor’s appointment.”
“Give me three creative story ideas about a dog who finds a magic hat.”
“Get me the latest news on US elections.”
“Find the best Mexican restaurants near me,” and so on.

Heads up: It may not always be accurate. For instance, when asked “who is the current Twitter CEO,” it mentioned Parag Agrawal, who left the position in October 2022. Similarly, when asked “who is Twitter CEO,” it correctly answered Linda Yaccarino but with an image of Jack Dorsey. This is the only major con when pitted against Perplexity.

Download You.com AI for Android

Download You.com AI for iPhone

3. Monica AI Assistant

AI models used: GPT-3 (free), GPT-4, Claude 3, and Gemini

Monica AI is available on both phones and desktops. But unlike other chatbots that feel more like a “search engine with a chatbox,” Monica truly feels like a helpful friend. It reminds me of those friendly in-car robots in MG cars – you get that sense of someone being there to help.

While Perplexity focuses on text-based answers, Monica AI goes the extra mile. You can ask questions, start interesting conversations, and even get summaries of PDFs and images directly on your phone – saving you tons of time.

My favorite part – you can talk to Monica using your voice. She’ll respond with answers and you can follow up on it without typing a thing. This is something Perplexity can’t do yet.

Monica AI can even summarize YouTube videos. Plus, there’s an amazing AI translation tool powered by the GPT model. It figures out what language you’re speaking and translates it as you speak. And that’s not it; Monica AI can also generate images and videos with just a few words and all of this is free!

The free version uses OpenAI’s GPT-3 model. While it offers a good starting point, it has restrictions. You get limited queries and access to information only up to September 2021. Upgrading to premium unlocks the powerful GPT-4V engine, web search capabilities, and more!

Download Monica AI for Android

Download Monica AI for iPhone

Perplexity Alternatives: So Which One Should You Use

Perplexity AI is a fantastic choice for anyone who wants the most up-to-date information with clear source citations. However, its conversational style might feel a bit formal, and some features require a paid subscription.

If you’re interested in alternatives, there are several compelling options.

Need a clean, distraction-free experience? Arc Search could be ideal.
Looking for flexibility and different AI modes? YouChat is a versatile choice.
If you crave a more personal touch in your AI interactions, Monica AI might be your new favorite.

And for those who prefer a traditional search engine experience, Google Gemini or Microsoft Copilot are both great choices – Gemini taps into Google’s extensive knowledge base while Copilot offers free access to the impressive GPT-4 language model.

4 Best AirPods Apps for Android to Get iPhone-like Experience

Posted on April 9, 2024April 9, 2024 by Ritik Singh

AirPods and Android can be a scary combination. That’s because Apple limits features like battery indicator, gesture controls, and in-ear detection on non-Apple devices. It’s a bummer for someone like me who enjoys AirPods Pro on their Pixel or my colleague who received AirPods as a gift but uses a Samsung Galaxy phone.

But where Apple’s closed ecosystem shuts its door, Android’s openness shines. With the right third-party apps, you can enjoy a near iPhone-like experience with your AirPods, even on Android. I’ve tested over a dozen apps so you don’t have to. Keep reading.

AirPods on Android: What Works and What Does Not

Feature	Works on Android?	App or Solution
Connection pop-up	No	AndroPods, MaterialPods, OpenPods
Tap to play or pause playback	Yes	–
Battery life indicator	No	AndroPods, MaterialPods, OpenPods, CAPods
In-ear detection	No	AndroPods and MaterialPods (both premium)
Spatial audio	No	–
Double-tap customization	No	Assistant Trigger (premium)
Stem volume controls	Yes	–
Siri voice commands	No	Activate Google Assistant using Assistant Trigger
Apple Find My	No	MaterialPods or locate them manually by playing a loud audio
Software Updates	No	–
Adaptive EQ	No	Third-party apps like Wavelet

In short, when connected to your Android phone, your AirPods function just like regular Bluetooth headphones.

With older AirPods (1st or 2nd generation), you can:

Play and pause music by double-tapping an AirPod while it’s in your ear.
Listen to music, watch videos, and take calls.

If you have newer AirPods Pro, AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods (3rd generation), you can also:

Play and pause music by tapping the AirPod stem.
Skip forward by double-pressing and backward by triple-pressing the stem.
Lightly swipe up or down on the stem to adjust volume (AirPods Pro 2).
Press and hold the stem to switch between Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes.

To check your AirPods battery, trigger Google Assistant, and change how they sound, you’ll need to install third-party apps. As you can see below, I’ve tried almost all the options out there.

Here are the ones that I found useful:

1. AndroPods: iOS Style Battery Pop-up on Android

iPhone-style battery level pop-up (buds and case)
Battery levels in the notification bar
Case charging indicator

AndroPods brings iOS-style pop-up animation to your Android phone. Just like on an iPhone, you’ll see a cool pop-up when you open your charging case and your AirPods connect. This pop-up shows you the battery levels for your buds and case right there on the screen.

AndroPods even shows the battery percentage in your notification bar. I also like that you can glance at the case battery level right from your lock screen, though it’s not real-time, and from the last time your AirPods connected.

Plus, there’s a handy charging indicator whenever you plug in your AirPods case. But you’ll need to tell which AirPods model you’re using since it doesn’t automatically detect that yet.

AndroPods battery notification for AirPods on Android

The app is free and I didn’t see any ads either. However, there’s a Pro version that brings ear detection, double-tap gesture to activate Google Assistant, and gestures to make phone calls.

Pros	Cons
Auto-hide pop-up when both AirPods are inserted into ears	No automatic detection for AirPods model
Free version with no ads	Ear detection and double-tap gestures require premium

Download AndroPods

2. Assistant Trigger: Launch Assistant with AirPods

Launch Google Assistant or Bixby by squeezing your AirPods.
Wakes up your phone even when it’s locked.
Shows your AirPods battery in the notification bar (Pro feature)

iPhone users can say “Hey Siri” or squeeze the AirPod stem to activate Siri. However, there’s no such feature on Android. This is where the Assistant Trigger app comes to the rescue.

Once set up, you can single or double-squeeze your AirPods to launch Google Assistant or any other voice assistant on your Android phone. It works flawlessly and can call Google Assistant even when your phone is locked.

On Samsung phones, however, this activates Bixby by default unless you’ve disabled it and switched to Google Assistant.

Assistant Trigger app for AirPods on Android

The app is free for the most part but features like customizing the gestures, ear detection, notification announcements, and AirPod battery pop-up and notification are reserved for Pro users. Also, I don’t like ads that appear on the connection pop-up animation.

Pros	Cons
Triggers Assistant even when your phone is locked	Buggy, just doesn’t work sometimes
Auto-detects your AirPods model	Features like Ear detection and notification announcer require premium

Download Assistant Trigger

3. MaterialPods: The Most Comprehensive AirPod App

Shows a customizable battery pop-up upon connection
AirPod battery widget for home screen
Locate lost AirPods by ringing them
Ear detection and Google Assistant (Pro features)

MaterialPods app pop-up for AirPods on Android

Find lost AirPods with Material Pods app on Android

When you connect your AirPods, MaterialPods displays a customizable pop-up with battery levels. You can choose between 2D/3D styles and also customize its size and corners. You can also change how the battery stats appear in the notification bar.

I also love the home screen widget that neatly displays battery levels for both the buds and the case. And on the days you can’t find your AirPods, you can play a loud ring to locate them.

However, ads are a major downside, they appear even on the pop-up. Also, important features like activating Google Assistant with a double-tap and auto/play pause music when you remove or wear AirPods are locked behind a paywall.

A small donation fee (less than $2) unlocks the Pro version, removing ads and enabling features like these. If you’re willing to pay, this could be your all-in-one AirPods app for Android.

Pros	Cons
Customizable connection pop-up	Pop-up has annoying ads
Ring to find lost AirPods is quite handy	Ear detection and Google Assistant trigger require premium

Download MaterialPods

4. Wavelet: Improve Your AirPods Sound on Android

iPhones have Adaptive EQ, automatically adjusting AirPods sound based on fit and environment. However, when using them with Android, you can’t change how they sound unless your phone has a built-in equalizer.

For enhanced control, I highly recommend the Wavelet app. Install it, enable Legacy Mode from the settings. Then go to AutoEQ, turn it on, and select your AirPods model. Tap the graph and set its strength to 60-70% (you can experiment to find what sounds best).

Then, head back and turn on Graphic Equalizer. Choose a preset or manually customize the equalizer to your liking. And yes, don’t forget to enable Limiter to prevent audio distortion.

AirPods Pro 2 AutoEQ in Wavelet app on Android

This way, you can make your AirPods sound exactly how you want them to. With my AirPods Pro 2, I use 70% AutoEQ with custom graphic equalizer settings as shown above. Feel free to experiment and find your sweet spot!

Download Wavelet

Other AirPods Apps That You Can Consider

PodsBattery : Displays battery levels for your AirPods in a pop-up and (optionally) a dynamic island.
CAPod: This open-source app shows battery levels in the notification bar. It also displays charging status and case open/closed status. Autoplay, auto pause, and pop-ups require a paid upgrade.
OpenPods: Another open-source option with a minimal interface. OpenPods shows battery levels for AirPods and case in pop-ups and the status bar.

Now You Can Love Your AirPods Even on Android

So, these were all the AirPods companion apps that I found super handy on Android. Apple has its own restrictions, and hence the experience isn’t as cohesive, but I’m not complaining. You can get the iPhone-like connection pop-up, check battery status, trigger Google Assistant, get Ear Detection, and more – all with simple third-party apps.

I use AndroPods since pop-ups and battery status is what I need. Anyway, what do you like? Got any other queries? Let me know in the comments or on social media.

10 Fixes for Can’t Turn On RCS Messaging on Android

Posted on January 16, 2024January 17, 2024 by Nitin Singh

While Apple keeps iMessage limited to its product ecosystem, Android phone users get to enjoy RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging. So you can enjoy longer texts, read receipts, reactions, video calls, typing indicators, photo and video sharing, Luckily, several mobile operators support RCS on Android through Google Messages. RCS is set to replace the traditional SMS and MMS messaging on your Android phone.

After the latest Android update, Google Messges prompts you to enable RCS messaging when you open it the first time while setting up your phone. Whether you got that prompt or not, you’ll need to turn on RCS messaging. Here are the fixes when you can’t turn on RCS messaging on Android.

Before You Begin

You’ll need to tinker around with Google Messages settings to turn on RCS messaging. However, before you go fishing around, you’ll need to sort out a few basic things first. Here are the list of things you can check before tricky ones:

Restart Your Phone – A simple restart can be a lifesaver in situations like this. So go ahead and restart your phone.
Update the Phone – You should also update your phone to the latest version. The software updates contain bug fixes and sometimes also update the message settings for your phone. Alternatively, also ensure you’re not running a rooted or custom system software on your phone otherwise Google limits your access to its services.
Update the Messages App – This goes without saying that the Google Messages app should be updated to the latest version from the Google Play Store.
Airplane Mode – Enabling airplane mode can help you refresh all mobile network and radio-related services, which should restore any network lags or similar issues.
Check Mobile Data or Wi-Fi – An RCS chat requires a working internet connection. Hence, ensure you have a valid data plan or you’re connected to Wi-Fi.

1. Check RCS Chat Status

After covering the basics, the first thing you’ll need to check is whether your phone has active RCS Messaging support. That means if your mobile service provider supports it, your Android phone needs to run at least Android 9.0 or higher. Here’s how to check the RCS chat status.

1. Open the Google Messages app and tap on the profile photo at the top-right corner. Then, tap on Messages settings.

messages settings in the google messages app

2. Tap on RCS chats. If it says Connected, then the problem might lie somewhere else.

RCS chats connected in google messages on android

3. If you see Disconnected next to Status, your Android phone does not have an active internet connection. Connect to the Wi-Fi or enable Mobile Data for RCS to connect.

RCS chats disconnected in google messages on Android

4. If your RCS chat status displays Trying to verify, then Google servers are verifying your phone number for proper functionality. Tap Verify your number if you see that for a while and wait for the process to complete.

Verifying mobile number in google messages to enable RCS

2. Switch to Google Messages as the Default Messaging App

Are you using a carrier’s messaging app or a third-party one to turn on RCS chat on your Android? The problem with carrier messaging apps is they have a limited implementation of RCS. For example, Verizon supports RCS only on its Messages+ app. Similarly, the Samsung Messages app does support RCS but the availabilibity varies depending on the mobile service provider.

Since the Google Messages app has universal compatibility for RCS regardless of your Android phone and carrier, you should make Google Messages the default messaging app.

3. Turn Off the Toggle for SMS/MMS

Did the RCS chat in Google Messages stop working suddenly? The problem could be a toggle that switches sending all messages over SMS/MMS by default. That’s an honest mistake and double-checking that could save a lot of time.

1. Open the Google Messages app and open a chat. Then, tap on the three dots in the top-right corner.

opening the three dot menu in a chat on google messages

2. Choose Details and if the toggle next to Only send as text (SMS/MMS) is turned on, disable it.

disabling the only send as text option in google messages

4. Check the Associated Mobile Number in Dual SIM Phones

Did you know that RCS only works on a single SIM? On your dual SIM Android phone, check the number that has active RCS chat service. RCS may be already on and connected only on one number, but not the other.

1. Open the Google Messages app to check the mobile number associated with RCS. Tap on the profile photo on the top-right corner and choose Messages settings.

2. For phones with active dual SIMs, tap on General. Tap on RCS chats.

RCS chats settings in google messages app on android

3. The text next to Status will read Connected, you can see the mobile number associated with RCS chats. If you wish to use RCS with the other mobile number on your phone, tap the Turn on RCS chats toggle to turn off RCS and configure it your other mobile number.

turning off RCS chats for a mobile number and connecting another number on google messages on android

5. Turn Off RCS on Previously Used Phones

Were you using RCS chat on your old Android phone and it’s still activer even after you’ve bought a new phone? Many users in Google Support forum stated that the RCS chat was still active on their old Android and that prevented it from turning on the new phone. You need to de-register RCS from your previous phone and connect RCS to the new phone.

1. To de-register your previous phone from RCS, head over to the Google Disable RCS chat page and disconnect your mobile number from Google RCS servers.

2. Open the Google Messages app on your Android phone and enable RCS chats again.

6. Turn Off Sync for Google Fi

Google also recommends to turn off the Google Fi message sync which allows syncing the texts with Messages for Web. To turn it off, head over to the Google Messages for Web, and tap on Stop sync & sign out. After that, you can turn on RCS on your phone.

7. Update the Carrier Services App

The Carrier Services app provides support for various services like Wi-Fi calling, VoLTE, and RCS. Hence, update the Carrier Services app to the latest version or it may cause issues in turning on RCS on your Android phone or tablet if you’re running an older version of the app.

8. Clear Cache for the Google Messages App

Many users recommend on the Google support page to clear the cache of the Messages app. That will give the app a sort of fresh start and you can enable RCS chat again for the Messages app on Android.

1. Tap and hold Messages app icon and tap on the ‘i’ information icon from the floating menu.

accessing the google messages app info on samsung galaxy phones

2. Tap on Storage, and hit Clear cache at the right-bottom of the screen.

Clearing cache for Google messages on Samsung galaxy phones

Similarly, you can also try clearing the cache for the Carrier Services app.

9. Setup RCS with Mobile Data

RCS can also have issues if you set it up while connected to Wi-Fi. Sounds odd, but users reported on the Google Support page about setting up RCS with Mobile Data, and did work for them. Hence, try setting it up while using Mobile Data.

1. Turn off Wi-Fi and connect to Mobile Data (either 4G or 5G). Then, clear the Cache and Data for the Google Messages app.

2. Press the Power button and Volume down button for 8-10 seconds to restart your phone. Open Google Messages, and tap on the profile photo at the top-right corner. Tap on Messages settings.

messages settings in google messages app on android

3. Tap on RCS chats. Turn on the toggle for Turn on RCS chats.

turning on RCS chats in google messages app on android

Tip: Verify your number if required and your carrier will verify in about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, ensure you’re connected to mobile data.

verifying your number to enable RCS chats in google messages on android

10. Reset Mobile Network Settings

If you still can’t turn on RCS from your Android phone, consider resetting the mobile network settings. Resetting the mobile network settings removes all network configurations, also delete all Wi-Fi passwords and reset them to default. Hence, make sure you have all required Wi-Fi passwords backed up.

Alternatively, you can also contact your carrier to resend the mobile network settings as it helped another user turn on RCS on their Android.

Godspeed RCS

The RCS messaging is the next big thing that’s set to replace SMS and MMS on your phones. However, the major adoption rests with the mobile operators to support it. After that, switch it on in the Google Messages app for Android and you can enjoy the features that you enjoy in apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. Meanwhile, check our compilation of the best tips and tricks to use RCS chat in Google Messages.

4 AI Apps to Change Your Hairstyle in Images

Posted on January 16, 2024January 17, 2024 by Ravi Teja KNTS

Before changing your hairstyle, you may want to check whether it’ll suit you. Whether you want to try out a new hairstyle just in photos or considering a makeover, you can do that without chopping a single hair. We check out AI image editing apps like DALL-E, AI tools on Photoshop, and dedicated AI apps to change hairstyle in images. Out of them, we’ve hand-picked the best AI tools to change the hairstyle with some good results.

1. DALL-E 2 Image Editor

DALL-E is an AI image generative tool by Open AI. However, it also provides an AI outpainting image editor to erase or add objects to any uploaded image. To change your hairstyle, select the hair in the image, specify the style you prefer, and DALL-E will remove the selected portion and generate the hairstyle.

1. Ipen the DALL-E 2 website, click on the three-dot menu at the top-right corner, and click on the Open editor button beside the Try outpainting option.

2. Select upload image icon to add an image and choose the erase icon to erase the current hairstyle in the image.

3. Finally, move the Generation frame to the erased portion and enter the prompt in the text prompt area. Type the hairstyle name or any description.

4. You will get four AI-generated results. You can further edit them or Accept the one you prefer. To download, just click on the download icon at the top right corner.

Generated hairstyle result on DALL-E editor

Of course, Dall-E is meant for more noble purposes. But using it to try out a new hairstyle delivers way better results than kooky filter-driven image editing apps. Also, you get 15 free credits every month which can be used to edit 15 images. Later, you have the option to buy credits starting from $115 for 15 credits.

2. Generative Fill in Photoshop

DALL-E will get the work done with a simple editor that uses AI to erase and generate content. But, Photoshop is the better option if you want more manual control and got the chops to handle the app. Photoshop brings a new AI feature called Generative Fill to erase and generate content in the selected portion of the image exactly like DALL-E. To use it, you’ll need Photoshop or Adobe’s Creative Cloud subscription.

1. Open your photo in Photoshop and select the hair with the rectangular selection tool or lasso selection tool.

2. Select the Generative Fill option in the pop-up, and enter the hairstyle you prefer in the text field.

Photoshop will also generate four results for you to select one – just like DALL-E. However, Photoshop more manual control to make changes to the hairstyle. Occasionally, Photoshop may generate results that are not related to the hairstyle you’d want to see. Try a couple of times by changing the prompt a bit to get the result you are looking for.

3. AI Hairstyles

Unlike DALL-E and Photoshop, AI hairstyles aims to stand true to its name. You get a plethora of hairstyles and color options instead manually describing the hairstyle. The app is paid starting at $6.99 for 10 results and no offers free trials.

1. Open the AI hairstyles website and click on Get Started to log in to the service. Upload the image you want to change the hairstyle for.

2. Select the hairstyle, color, and other options. Once done, click on Next to generate the results.

3. Similar to other AI image-generative apps, you will get 4 images for every result. You can select the one you need.

The results generated by AI Hairstyles are far better than other online hairstyle editors. However, it changes the background and sometimes does a weak job of removing it. So there is a high chance the image may come out looking odd. Also, you can only select from the available hairstyles so you are out of luck if you prefer to generate your own style.

They have packs like for example, 25 hairstyles in one color for $8 that will get you over 100 images. Surely, one would catch your fancy, eh?

4. Vivid AI

Want to change the hairstyle in photos on your phone? The Vivid AI app can help. It supports many features like background removal, sky changing, text-to-image generation, adding formal outfits to uploaded images, etc. We’ll use the AI Avatar feature to change hairstyles in your portrait photos into cantoons, oil paintings, sketches, etc.

However, you cannot choose a particular hairstyle you want. The app automatically generates a couple of results with different hairstyles. You can get a 3-day free trial for your usage after which there are multiple plans to choose from.

1. Download the Vivid AI app from the Play Store or the App Store.

2. Open the Vivid AI app, select the AI Avatar option, and choose Realistic.

3. On the next screen, select the Male, Female, or Other tab according to your need and then select the Hair style option.

Selecting the hairstyle option on Vivid AI

4. On the next page, tap on Continue and then upload at least 10-20 images of yours.

5. Finally, the app will generate multiple images with various hairstyles for you to check. In case, you haven’t purchased AI Avatar on Vivid AI before, then you will get the option to subscribe from here.

Though the app generated results with various hairstyles, you have no control over selecting the hairstyle. Also, the app does not just change the hairstyle, rather it collects data from all your images and generates your entire image with different hairstyles from scratch. So the app is useful to play around, rather than a tool for choosing hairstyles.

Change Hairstyle Using AI

There aren’t many good dedicated hairstyle-changing AI apps available as of now. But with the currently available AI tools, DALL-E and Photoshop do a better job changing the hairstyle but are paid. Whereas AI Hairstyles and Vivid AI might be free dedicated apps, but aren’t that great.

Besides your hair, you can use AI tools to remove people from your photos.

How to Completely Uninstall Apps on Mac Including Leftover Files

Posted on December 25, 2023December 25, 2023 by Ravi Teja KNTS

You either drag and drop app icons to the Trash bin or delete them from the Finder to uninstall apps. However, it will only delete the apps but not the files created by these applications. Such files are useless, take up storage space, and sometimes even run in the background affecting battery life. So, it’s necessary to uninstall apps including leftover files properly. Here’s how you can completely uninstall apps on your Mac including leftover files.

There are multiple ways to uninstall apps perfectly from manually finding and removing the files to using third-party apps that can make work easier. Let’s start with the best option that works effectively in finding and deleting all the related files.

1. App’s Own Uninstaller App (Safest)

Some apps come with their own uninstaller app. For example, Avast gets installed along with its uninstaller app called Avast Uninstaller. The purpose of this uninstaller app is to uninstall that specific app perfectly along with all the files related to that app. However, most apps don’t come with an uninstaller app. So this method won’t work for all apps. But if do see an uninstaller app, use that since it can better search and delete all files and folders created by the app.

1. Open the Finder app and navigate to the Applications folder. Here check if there is any uninstaller app for the app that you want to delete. Such apps have uninstaller in their name making it easier to locate.

2. If there is an Uninstaller app, open it and follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall the app. This will uninstall both the main app along its uninstaller.

For some apps, the uninstaller app will not be installed when you are installing that application. So, you may have to check for the uninstaller application on the app’s website. While it’s a lot of work just to uninstall one app, this process will make sure that you are uninstalling the app correctly including the leftover files.

2. Third-Party Uninstaller App (Recommended)

Using the application’s uninstaller works great, but not all applications have one. Some third-party apps will help uninstall an application along with their leftover files completely without the uninstaller, paid and free.

Some examples include CleanMyMac X, MacKeeper, and Ccleaner which can do a lot more than uninstalling an application along with files.

But if you are not using one of the above, we recommend a simple, free, and easy-to-use app called AppCleaner.

1. Download the latest version of the AppCleaner app supported by your MacOS version.

2. Open the downloaded zip file to unzip it. Then drag and drop the AppCleaner application icon into the Application folder to install it.

3. Now open the AppCleaner app. You can drag any application to check for all the related files.

4. Alternatively, change to the list view in the top left corner. Here, you can search for the application that you want to Uninstall.

5. Once you drop or select the application from the list, you will see all the files related to the app.

Selecting files to remove along with the app

6. You have the option to deselect any file or folder if you think it’s needed. Once done, click on the Remove button.

7. The application may ask for your Mac password to verify and uninstall the application along with its files.

Granting permission to remove files on Mac

8. Are you seeing the error message “You do not have permission to move the files to the trash”. That means the app will also show you the files that it does not have permission to delete.

9. Just click on the magnifier icon beside that file.

10. It will open the Finder app highlighting the file. Select the file and delete it by pressing Command+Delete.

11. Once done, click on the Remove button to uninstall the application.

Uninstalling apps along with the leftover files on Mac

3. Manually Uninstall Apps

If you do not want to install a third-party app, then your only option is to find all the related files and delete them manually. It can be a complicated process and there is a good chance that you may not find all the relevant files manually. Remember, do not delete files that you are unsure of as you might accidentally delete files related to some other apps or system resources. That being said, here’s where you can find files related to the app that you want to uninstall.

1. The main application files are located in /Applications/. Some applications can be stored inside the folders under the same location.

Note: By default, applications will be installed in the root Application folder, not the user Applications folder. However, most related files and data will be saved under the user account. The ~ icon represents the user’s directory.

2. Application support files are located in ~/Library/Application Support/

3. Support Caches can be found in /Library/Caches/ and ~/Library/Caches. Cache files should be available on both the root folder and the user folder.

4. Plugins are located in ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/

5. Library can be found in ~/Library/

6. App preferences are located in ~/Library/Preferences/

7. Crashes are found in ~/Library/Application Support/CrashReporter/

8. App saved states are located in ~/Library/Saved Application State/

Completely Uninstall Apps on Mac Including Leftover Files

Apart from the abovementioned methods, you can also uninstall an app completely with its files/folders using the Terminal. However, there isn’t a command that can find and delete all the app-related files automatically. You may have to use the rm command and remove all the files and folders manually from the locations mentioned above by navigating through the Mac Terminal.

We will highly recommend using the official uninstaller that came with the app or a third-party uninstaller app in case you are not sure. There is more that can go wrong here when following the manual route.