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10 Gboard Hacks Every Android User Should Know

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We may earn a commission from links on this page. Gboard is the default keyboard option for a staggering number of Android smartphones across the globe, and it's not just limited to Pixels. If you have an Android device, you've probably used Gboard for years without giving it a second look. The default setup is good, the predictive text suggestions work, and in a pinch, you can swipe to type. Google Pixel 10 (256GB) $885.00 at Amazon Shop Now ...
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Microsoft Is Combining Its Two 'Copilot' Apps (and Ditching These Three Features)

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Microsoft Copilot is a little messy. Unlike ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude, the company's AI service isn't one universal product. Instead, there's "Copilot," the AI for consumers, directly competing with the aforementioned AI apps; and "Microsoft 365 Copilot," the AI for professional use in Microsoft's work suite. Unless you're totally immersed in Microsoft's AI culture, you might be understandably confused about Copilot, and what features and plans belong to which version of the AI. Luckily, you don't need to be confused any longer. This week, Microsoft announced its intentions to merge its Copilot and Microsoft Copilot 365 platforms into a single app. If you use Copilot as you would ChatGPT or Gemini, you'll use this app. If you use Copilot with Word and Excel for work or school, you'll use this app. Essentially, if you're using Microsoft's AI for any reason, this will be the app of choice. It might not seem particularly...
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I Tried the Android App That's Helping People Around the World Bypass Censorship Laws

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If you've read our previous coverage on the Tor network and the Tor Browser , you'll know they're the best choices if you want to maximize your privacy and anonymity on the internet. Now, the Tor project has teamed up with the Bloco Android app studio to release another app focused on privacy and anonymity: Snowflake Volunteer . This isn't only bout keeping your own browsing safe and secure—if you install it on your Android phone, you're helping other people circumvent censorship restrictions in their current location, donating part of your connection to the web so that they can get online at all. Enabling Snowflake Volunteer on Android. Credit: Lifehacker The Tor Browser is so effective at hiding the identity and online activities of users that certain governments would rather their citizens didn't make use of ...
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You Can Still Get a Samsung Galaxy Z Phone With a $350 Amazon Gift Card

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We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Samsung announced five new products during its Galaxy Unpacked event last month. Three of those are the new flagship smartphones: the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8. Amazon had pre-order deals that were supposed to last until their launch, but the deal is still active after their release. We don't know for how long, so if you're interested, get it before it's gone. You can get an Amazon gift card up to $350, while Samsung is offering a max of $230 in Samsung credits . And if you're looking to switch to T-Mobile, you can get a Galaxy Z Fold 8 on them . You can read more details on that deal here . Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Unlocked Cell Phone + $200 Gift Card, 256GB Graphite ...
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Five New Changes in iOS 27 Beta 5

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Apple released the fifth beta for iOS 27 on Monday, Aug. 10. As we get closer to the update's official fall release, the number of features and changes Apple will introduce with each beta is certainly diminishing, and no one would call beta 5 a feature-filled update. However, there are some new features and changes worth noting, especially as they are things Apple didn't previously announce at WWDC . Before I get into what's new, a reminder: iOS 27 is not yet finished. As such, while anyone with a compatible iPhone can install it , know there are risks to running beta software on your device. Make sure to make a proper backup of your data, as you could lose everything on your iPhone in the event you need to downgrade back to iOS 26. Apple just updated five app icons with iOS 27 beta 5 This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. When you update your iPhone to the latest iOS 27 beta—or, presumably, iOS 27 itself—you...
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You Can (Maybe) Run Meta's Latest AI Model Locally on Your Computer

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On Monday, Meta announced its latest AI model : Muse Glimmer. The company isn't necessarily advertising this model as its biggest and best, however. While Meta has plenty to say about Muse Glimmer's performance potential, there are two key selling points for the model in the company's eyes: The fact that it's open-weight, and that it's designed to run locally on "consumer" Macs and PCs—though perhaps not on your computer. What is Muse Glimmer? According ot Meta, Muse Glimmer is a 30-billion-parameter AI model optimized for "always-on local agent workflows." What that means is Glimmer is designed to run autonomously directly on your machine, rather than outsourcing that processing to the cloud. Local AI is much more secure than cloud-based, as your data stays within your system. When you tap into cloud servers, you're at the mercy of whichever company owns that network, potentially putting your data in jeopardy. While there are many use cas...
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Five Ways to Make Gemini Behave More Like Google Assistant

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Google Assistant is about to get one heck of a headstone in the Google Graveyard . The voice assistant has been a handy tool for years, but the company has finally decided to replace it with Gemini entirely. If you’re not exactly thrilled about the AI-ification of every app you use, there are a few ways to make Gemini behave a bit more like the Assistant of yore. The switch from Assistant has been coming for a while; it’s a seismic shift for a lot of devices. On top of deprecating Assistant on Android phones and tablets, it’s also disappearing for Wear OS devices and some Android Auto cars. Some smart home devices and TVs will still support Assistant, but you can switch to Gemini (and you might want to since the choice is likely to be made for you eventually). Regardless of how you feel about AI chatbots, using Gemini might become unavoidable if you’re in the Google ecosystem. So, if you want to keep the functionality you had in your phone, car, or kitchen, ...
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