KL Techs

Google Photos doesn't have to be one of those things that you set up and forget. Despite its initial simplicity, Google Photos is full of settings and features you can configure to make the app work better for you. With these hacks, you can manage a massive photo library, reduce cloud storage, hide pictures of your ex, and disable AI in search. Use Storage saver mode to upload more photos without running out of cloud storage If you feel like you’re going to run out of cloud storage space, and you don’t care about backing up photos and videos at the best quality possible, try Google’s Storage saver mode. When backing up, it automatically scales down photos and videos to help you save cloud storage space at a respectable quality level. Photos get scaled down to 16MP, and videos stay at 1080p. This only works for new uploads, though, so the sooner you enable this feature, the better off you’ll be. Go to Settings > Backup > Photo and Video Quality and swit...

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Maps are an excellent feature on any watch you plan to take running or hiking. Unfortunately they tend to be a premium feature, and until recently you had to spend some pretty serious money to get offline maps on a watch. But that’s changing, and we now have several great options in the mid range and even entry level watches. For this list, I’m only considering watches that are current models—you may be able to find deals on older versions of these. All of these watches have been road-tested either by myself or Meredith Dietz here at Lifehacker.  Why maps matter on a watch This watch has breadcrumb navigation but no maps. Credit: Beth Skwarecki Let me be really clear on what it means for a watch to have maps. This is a premium feature on top of navigation and GPS tr...

During its Sept. 9 keynote, Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Ultra 4 , both of which will come with a feature that passively listens to your audio conversations all day and can summarize them for you on demand. It's part of a collection of features called "Audio Intelligence," but the two key features to consider here are:  Live Rewind: If you double-press the Digital Crown on your Apple Watch, it will pull up a text snippet of your conversation over the last fifteen seconds.  Siri Recaps: Your watch listens to your conversations and generates an AI summary of any of your transcribed audio at the end of each day.  At first glance, the basic concept seems like a privacy nightmare, but Apple has put some safeguards in place to help people feel more comfortable with this feature: The audio that is captured is never recorded or stored, and never leaves your device; it is essentially deleted immediately and in real time from local storage; only a truncated...

Libby is a service that connects users to their local library systems, giving them access to an enormous catalog of digital content, including e-books, audiobooks, and magazines—for free. If you're a reader (or listener), you'll want to take advantage of these Libby tips and tricks for borrowing, organizing, and maximizing your loans. Add multiple library cards to see availability across other systems You're not limited to one library system on Libby. The platform allows you to connect to multiple libraries, so you can take advantage of larger catalogs in case one library has more titles or a shorter wait times for books you want to read. You still have to be eligible for a library card at every library you connect to, but you could add your city library, your county library, and a school library to your account (or even take advantage of a friend's or family member's card from a different city). Go to Menu > Add Library and search by library name, city, or zi...

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Linksys RE7000 Range Booster is designed to fill weak-signal gaps without changing your existing router, and it's currently on sale for just $27.99 as an open-box unit on StackSocial . Open box usually means the packaging has been handled or returned, but the unit itself has been checked and works like new. This model plugs straight into a wall outlet and keeps the top socket usable, so it doesn’t block access in tight spaces. In a typical home, Linksys claims coverage up to 2,500 square feet, though real-world results depend on walls and layout. Setup is simple: You press the WPS button to sync it with your router and use a phone or laptop to finish the process in a few minutes. It works with most routers, including those provided by internet service providers. Once it's in place, the extender works by pulling in your existing Wi-Fi signal and push...