3 things you can do to step up your selfie game
Taking a self portrait might seem like a straightforward process, but the truth is, getting the lighting, composition, and mood just right can be a challenge, as is the case with any photograph.
To ensure your Snapchat post is up to snuff or your Tinder photo is as smooth as your pickup line (which will inevitably fail after you match with someone), we’re here to offer a few tips to improve your selfie game.
There are three components to any self-portrait: lighting, composition/framing, and stance. Each of these aspects intertwine with one another to ultimately determine what the resulting image will look like. Below, we’ll dive into each to help you better understand how to make the most of the selfie trinity.
Lighting
Lighting plays the most important role in the overall quality of your selfie. After all, the word photography literally means “painting with light.”
More often than not, you’ll want a soft, even light for selfies. Harsh light can accentuate unwanted features and overall tends to yield a less attractive aesthetic, although, as with anything in the world of photography, there are exceptions to this rule.
The easiest way to achieve soft, even lighting is to capture your selfie by a window during the day. Depending on what direction the window is facing, you might need to adjust where it is you’re standing. But overall, natural light is far more likely to yield a better image than the usual artificial lighting you’ll find in your house or while out and about. Below is an example selfie, taken by model Tess Holliday, showing the benefits of soft, even light from a window.
In the event you’re outside and there’s no shade to take cover under, your best bet is to shoot with the sun at your back and expose the image for your face. Better yet, use your body or head to block out the sun in the frame to minimize flares. This should yield a far more usable image than shooting with the sun at your face – not to mention it’ll save you from squinting your entire way through the selfie-shooting process.
If natural light isn’t a possibility, try to find an area that offers a large, diffused source of light, preferably a light source that isn’t facing straight down from the ceiling either, as it will cast unnatural and unappealing shadows, most notably under your eyes and nose. Play around with fill flash, which helps to illuminate the face in backlit situations.
Want to record your iPhone or iPad screen? Here’s how to do it on Mac and Windows
So you want to record your iPad or iPhone screen? Well, there’s good news and bad news. The good news is that there are programs available that allow you to do this. The bad news is that there are no iOS apps that can record your iOS device’s screen. Apple does not allow screen recording apps in the App Store, so you’ll have to find a program that can do this for you. But don’t worry, because we’re here to help.
Mac users will have the easiest time recording their iPhone or iPad screens because they can use Quicktime, while Windows users will have to rely on third-party programs. Some of these third-party programs are more feature rich than Quicktime, so in some circumstances Mac users can also benefit from going this route.
Record your iPhone or iPad on a Mac with Quicktime
The easiest way to record your iOS device’s screen on a Mac is simply to plug it in, open Quicktime, and record from there. Apple has ended support for Quicktime on Windows, and you won’t be able to do this on a Windows computer anyway. We’ve already had a warning from the Department of Homeland Security to uninstall Quicktime from Windows, so installing this program on a Windows computer is not something we would recommend. This iPhone screen recording method is the easiest, but it is only for Mac users.
QuickTime for Mac
Step 1: Plug in your iOS device to your Mac and open Quicktime.
Step 2: Go to File > New Movie Recording.
Step 3: Click the arrow 
next to the Record button.
Step 4: Choose the device that you want to record.
Step 5: Click the Record button to start recording your iOS device’s screen.
That’s all there is to recording an iPad or iPhone screen with Quicktime on a Mac. It will detect whether you have your device in portrait mode or landscape and record the screen accordingly.
Making hard-boiled eggs isn’t so hard — here’s how to do it perfectly every time
Why it matters to you
It may be easier to hard boil an egg than to poach one, but there are still some ways to screw it up.
Everyone has an opinion on the way to make perfect, peelable hard-boiled eggs. Whether you’re making deviled eggs or are dipping them in dye for Easter eggs, you want your pre-birds to come out right. Why not sous vide or pressure cook them? Maybe you don’t have an appliance solely dedicated to eggs, but there are still plenty of methods that will have you ready to decorate or devour in no time.
On the stove
If you’re doing things the old fashioned way, don’t worry. You can still get perfect hard-boiled eggs on your stove. For this recipe, we took a page from J. Kenji López-Alt’s The Food Lab. He suggests pouring 2 quarts of water into a 3-quart pan and bringing it boil over high heat. Once you’ve carefully lowered in your eggs, cook them for 30 seconds. Add 12 ice cubes to the water then let it boil again. Lower the heat just above a simmer (about 190 degrees Fahrenheit) and cook for 11 minutes. Drain them and peel under running water.
For a simpler method, the Betty Crocker Cookbook suggests covering eggs with water, putting a lid on the pan, and bringing the water to a boil. You then immediately remove the pan from the heat and leave the eggs sitting for 15 minutes.
Over at the Prairie Homestead, there’s an explainer for how to use a metal colander to steam your eggs instead. This method supposedly works for easier-to-peel eggs.
Egg cooker
Cuisinart ($34) and Chef’s Choice ($40) both make dedicated egg cookers. They let you make eggs several ways, including poached and hard-boiled. They’re particularly foolproof. While the Cuisinart can make 10 at a time, Chef’s Choice is limited to seven. However, the Chef’s Choice cooker doesn’t require you to piece the shell before hand, so it definitely works better for Easter eggs. If you want something you can microwave, there’s the Nordic Ware option.
Sous vide
Anova, Nomiku, and Joule are just a few of the popular immersion circulators on the market. Clip them to your pot, and they will heat the water to a precise temperature. For hard-boiled eggs, one recipe at Anova suggests cooking them at 170 degrees Fahrenheit (76.7 degrees Celsius) for an hour. ChefStep has a whole egg calculator, based on firm you want both your whites and yolks. Perhaps it’s something about this method of cooking, but separating the eggs from their shells does tend to be a bit trickier.
Pressure cooker
Whether you’re using an Instant Pot or less-hip pressure cooker, the results should be similarly quick and painless.The Kitchn has instructions for hard-boiling eggs at low pressure: Add a cup of water, put in something to lift your eggs out of the bath, close the lid, set it on low pressure, and wait eight or nine minutes. Pressure Cook Recipes has Instant Pot-specific recommendations: eight minutes for high pressure, 12 for low.
How to pick the perfect camera lens
Congratulations on taking the giant photographic leap to an interchangeable lens camera! Sure, your phone has served you well (and will likely continue to do so) but now it’s time to spread your picture-taking wings. And as cool as your new DSLR or mirrorless camera is now, it won’t reach its true potential until you take a deep dive into the world of lenses. It’s a somewhat sad fact that most interchangeable-lens camera buyers never take off the kit lens that came with the camera, which sort of defeats the purpose of having an interchangeable-lens camera. This is why we’ve put together this guide to help make sure you know what to look for in lenses, and thus get the most out of your new camera.
Your first step
If you’ve yet to pull the trigger on a new camera, make sure to check out the lens options available for the brands and models you’re researching. Sure, it’s unlikely that anyone needs to buy a dozen lenses for their camera, but the larger the collection available, the more variety you will have to choose from, from wide-angle to telephoto and everything in between. Above all, make sure the specific type of lenses you need for your personal photographic style are available for your system of choice. For example, if you primarily photograph landscapes, you’ll want a different type of lens than if you plan to shoot mostly portraits (we’ll get into the specifics in a minute).
When you buy an interchangeable lens camera you’re entering a relationship with the specific hardware mount determined by the brand, so this is not a choice to take lightly. For example, Nikon DSLRs use the F mount and Canon DSLRs use the EF and EF-S mounts. Canon’s EOS-M series mirrorless cameras use a completely different mount, called EF-M. With the exception of Panasonic and Olympus, who share the Micro Four Thirds mount, virtually every manufacturer sticks to its own mount. And while they are all interchangeable-lens cameras, you cannot use Nikon glass on a Canon body and vice versa (well, sometimes you can but this involves using a mount adapter and almost always sacrifices some functionality).
Here’s how you publish 360-degree videos to your social timeline
For consumers, it’s becoming easier and more affordable than ever to capture 360-degree video. Thanks to pocket-sized devices like Nikon’s KeyMission 360 and the upcoming second-generation of the Samsung Gear 360, a few hundred dollars will get you 4K, 360-degree video. Capturing the video is only half of the equation, however, and arguably the least important half. After all, what’s the point of capturing 360-degree footage if no one is able to watch it?
Thankfully, three major platforms currently offer support for 360-degree videos: YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo. And we’re going to explain how to share your 360-degree video with the world by uploading your content to either of the three platforms. For the sake of brevity, we’re going to assume you’ve already captured and edited the 360-degree video you want to upload. Then, enjoy them on a computer, mobile device, or even virtual reality headset. (Twitter’s Periscope supports live-broadcasting of 360-degree videos through a compatible 360-degree camera, as do YouTube and Facebook. It’s a nascent technology that we will talk about in a future article.)
YouTube
Uploading 360-degree video to YouTube is a bit more convoluted than Facebook (see below), as there are a few extra steps involved. Most notably, YouTube doesn’t support 360-degree video that doesn’t already have the 360-degree metadata embedded in the file. That means, if your 360-degree camera doesn’t automatically include this information, you’ll need to download the Spatial Media Metadata Injector app from YouTube, which is available for both MacOS and Windows.
Once downloaded and installed, launch the app and select the video file you wish to add the metadata to. A dialogue box will appear, and you want to select the checkbox for Spherical video and click Save As. YouTube says to make sure you don’t select the 3D Top-bottom checkbox, otherwise, your video won’t be formatted as intended. After clicking Save As, give your video a name and save it. The new video, complete with the required metadata, will then be saved in its original location.
From here, the process for uploading your 360-degree video to YouTube is no different than any other video. Make your way to the YouTube homepage, click the Upload button in the upper-right corner, choose your newly-created video file, and include the title and tags you see fit.
It can take an upward of an hour for your 360-degree video to be formatted, so consider uploading the video ahead of time to ensure everything is in working order before the video goes live.
It’s also worth noting that 360-degree video on YouTube is supported only within Chrome, Opera, Firefox, and Internet Explorer. So, if you’re a Safari user, consider downloading Chrome or Firefox for MacOS. If you plan on viewing the video on a phone or tablet, make sure you’ve downloaded the latest update for the YouTube app on your respective device.
Before uploading your 360-degree video to Facebook, there’s only one detail you need to know — whether your video has 360-degree metadata included in the file. If your video already has this info embedded in the metadata, then simply upload and share your video like any other video on your timeline. If your video lacks this metadata, however, the process is more complicated.
In the event your 360 video doesn’t include the metadata, you will want to download a tool that can embed it within the video. The simplest solution is to use YouTube’s aforementioned Spatial Media Metadata Injector app.
First, upload your video to Facebook as you would any other piece of content.
Once uploaded, navigate to the Advanced tab within the video settings and click on the box next to “This video was recorded in 360º format.” When this box is checked, a 360 Controls tab will appear.
Navigate to the 360 Controls tab and adjust the orientation of the video and the appropriate field of view. It might take some trial and error to get the footage aligned properly, but once you’ve nailed the settings, you can take note of them for later use.
When the settings are to your liking, simply publish the video like any other piece of content using the Post button in the bottom-right corner. Facebook will do the rest to ensure your video looks and works as intended within your timeline. The only other detail worth noting is that Facebook does limit videos to 30 minutes in length and a maximum file size of 5GB.
Vimeo
Vimeo is the latest of the bunch to support 360-degree video, and the company has done its best to make the process as intuitive as possible. The service even allows for 8K uploads, and features a one-click 360 solution similar to that of Facebook.
Uploading 360-degree video to Vimeo isn’t much different than uploading a standard video to the platform. First, navigate to the upload section of your profile and select the video file you wish to upload. As the video is uploading, select the checkbox that says “This video was recorded in 360” and choose whether it was shot monoscopic or stereoscopic. If you shot the video using only one camera, you want to select monoscopic, as stereoscopic video is shot with multiple cameras and formatted in a very specific way.
Vimeo also offers a collection of advanced options, which you can play around with if you are comfortable doing so. These will help you select a default orientation, the exact coordinates of your pitch and yaw, and choose the boundaries of your video. If you don’t want to mess with these, Vimeo defaults to the most common settings for 360-degree videos.
Add the finishing touches to the video, such as the title and tags, and you’re set to publish. Vimeo supports all major browsers, as well as mobile devices and VR headsets, such as Samsung’s Gear VR and Google’s Daydream. You can even sell your 360-degree video in Vimeo’s marketplace, and embed it on other sites.
How to clean your computer monitor without destroying it
There are a few certainties in life: Death, taxes, and dirty computer screens. That’s just an unavoidable fact of life, as dust, fingerprints, and assorted detritus gathers on your monitor. While all that grime on your screen might not cause damage, it can certainly be an eyesore, filtering your movies, games, and other media through a layer of grime. We’ve got you covered with some pointers on how to keep your screen clean.
Some words of warning
While it may be tempting to reach for a bottle of Windex or some other general cleaning product, don’t! Harsh chemicals may be fine for windows or countertops, but they can wreak havoc on computer monitors, wearing away coatings. There are many cleaning fluids on the market geared specifically toward computer monitors, and while these products certainly work, you don’t need to spend the money on them if you don’t want to; distilled water should work for most monitor cleaning, and you can mix in some white vinegar for tougher grime.
Additionally, avoid paper towels, rags, old t-shirts, or many of the usual materials you use to wipe down surfaces in your home. Monitors are more delicate than they look, and these fabrics — even paper towels — are abrasive enough to scratch your screen, particularly if you have used them for other jobs where they might have accumulated grit. A microfiber cloth, the kind you might use to clean your glasses or vinyl records, is the safest choice, and make sure it’s free of any dirt or grime before swiping across your display.
Step 1: Turn Off the Monitor
First of all, it’s easier to see smudges and stuff on a black screen, so turning off your monitor makes it easier to see what you are doing. It’s also safer for you and for your computer. Cleaning your monitor while it’s on and the pixels are all fired up could damage your screen or potentially give you an unpleasant electrical jolt. So turn it off!
Step 2: Wipe Monitor with Cloth
If dust is the only thing defiling your screen, a quick wiping should be enough to clean it. Take a microfiber cloth and gently brush the screen in long motions. We cannot stress enough that you should be gentle; pressing too hard on the screen could damage the pixels within.
If the offending filth is tougher than dust — maybe some dried mucus from a sudden sneeze, or mysterious gunk from who-knows-what — then you can use some sort of safe fluid. You can use gentle cleaning fluid designed for monitors, but as mentioned earlier, water should suffice. It is best to use filtered or distilled water, as tap water may contain minerals or other substances that can harm the screen or leave annoying streaks. Add distilled white vinegar to the water if the grime is tough.
Whatever fluid you use, do not spray it directly on the monitor, as it may trickled down to the edge of the screen. If this happens, it could seep into the monitor and damage the electronic components within. Spray or dab the liquid onto the cloth, wringing out excess fluid, and gently wipe the monitor with broad strokes.
Step 3: Let It Dry
Gently dry your monitor with a microfiber cloth or let nature do the work for you. To avoid any moisture or electrical damage, make sure your screen is completely dry before turning your computer back on.
Updated 4-19-2017 by Will Nicol: Updated to provide safer tips.
TV calibration 101: How to tune up the picture of your new TV
Whether you spend $400 or $4,000 on a new TV (or video projector), it is a sure bet that your new display will need some adjustment. When you walk into a store, browsing TVs is a dazzling experience — every display pops with bright colors, attracting shoppers like bees to wildflowers. How do manufacturers get their TVs to impress under the fluorescent lighting of a showroom floor? Usually, by cranking up all the picture settings to the max.
No matter how much of a novice you are, there is some level of video adjustment you can handle yourself.
While TVs were often tuned for the store display right out of the box, these days they often ship with multiple presets, including dark and daylight settings, and even sports and gaming options. While this is certainly an improvement, no two home theaters are alike, and therefore the presets likely won’t be best for your viewing environment. That’s when it’s time to head to the settings and get into the nitty-gritty adjustments.
No matter how much of a novice you are when it comes to electronics, there is some level of video adjustment you can handle yourself. If you absolutely must have the best, feel free to call a pro — only they can provide true calibrations. For the rest of us, we offer our TV Tune-Up guide to help get you through some of the basic and intermediate self-service TV settings so you can get an awesome picture in just minutes.
Pick your process
This guide is designed to help those who want to do a manual adjustment without the aid of a calibration disc. Actually, we recommend you start with an “eye-ball” calibration first, even if you do intend to use a disc for help. It will get you closer to your ideal settings and facilitate faster fine-tuning later. However, a calibration disc can bring your TV to the next level.
There are a number of video calibration discs available, but we have two favorites. While many may be wondering about separate techniques for adjusting 4K Ultra HD TVs — especially those with HDR — we regret to say there are very few viable calibration discs available to the general public at present. However, the following examples are still extremely helpful, allowing you to hone in your TV’s picture in no time for impressive results.
Our favorite, and the most accessible for the average Joe, is the Disney WOW: World of Wonder Blu-ray disc. While it may be hard for proud videophiles to admit it, this Disney disc is both comprehensive and intuitive, and the more we use it, the more we like it. As a bonus to all of the display optimization stuff, it comes with several beautiful HD clips of popular Disney and Pixar movies, perfect for enjoying your well-adjusted new TV.
For the more technically inclined, we like the Spears and Munsil High Definition Benchmark Blu-ray Edition. In our experience, this is one of the most intuitive calibration and testing discs available to the enthusiast. It provides clear, easy to understand on-screen instructions as well as online support, and does away with the often corny and cheesy voice-overs associated with other calibration discs. The only downside is that it doesn’t include audio adjustment, but if audio help is what you need, we’ve got you covered here.
Other frequently recommended options include Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics, and Avia II Guide to Home Theater.
If you want to try a completely different approach — one which doesn’t involve a disc but rather your iOS or Android device — check out THX’s Tune-Up app. It connects to your TV via HDMI (separate adapter required) and uses your iOS or Android device’s camera to assist you. You can learn more about the app at the App Store (iOS) or Google Play store (Android).
Talk the talk
There are many terms at play when discussing picture quality and its various aspects. Though many of these terms tend to be easy to pick up and understand immediately, TV manufacturers seem intent on making things more confusing by applying their own proprietary nomenclature to terms like contrast, saturation, etc., or trademarked names to technology like local dimming or backlighting.
While we’re going to be using the basic terms in this article, they may be different from what your TV lists. To help make things clearer, we’ve included the following table to describe how different TV manufacturers refer to basic terminology.
LG
Samsung
Sharp
Sony
Vizio
Backlight
Backlight/OLED Light
Backlight
Backlight
Brightness
Backlight
Brightness
Brightness
Brightness
Brightness
Black level
Brightness
Color
Color
Color
Color
Color
Color
Color Space
Color management
Color space
C.M.S.
Advanced color temperature
Color tuner
Color Temperature
Color temperature
Color tone
Color temperature
Color temperature
Color temperature
Contrast
Contrast
Contrast
Contrast
Contrast
Contrast
Dynamic contrast
Dynamic contrast
Dynamic contrast
AquoDimming
Advanmced contrast enhancer
Black detail
Full/limited RGB
Black level
HDMI black level
Black level
Dynamic range
Local dimming
LED local dimming
Smart LED
N/A
Auto local dimming
Acrive LED zones
Motion interpolation/Motion smoothing
TruMotion
Auto motion plus
Motion enhancement
Motionflow
Reduce judder/Reduce motion blur
Noise removal
Noise reduction and MPEG noise reduction
Digital clear view and MPEG noise filter
Digital noise reduction
Random noise reduction and Digital noise reduction
Reduce noise
Picture mode
Picture mode
Picture mode
AV Mode
Picture mode
Picture mode
Sharpness
H & V sharpness
Sharpness
Sharpness
Sharpness
Sharpness
Tint
Tint
Tint
Tint
Tint
Tint
White balance
White balance
White balance
Advanced color temperature
Advanced color temperature
11 point white balance
How to convert and play FLAC music files on your iPhone or iPad
While there’s little argument that iPhones and iPads are attractive, well-designed gadgets, they do come with strict limitations when it comes to the type of audio files they will accept — Apple isn’t known for playing nice with files, except those that it sells you. It can be frustrating to drop thousands on high-end hardware for playback, only to be limited by the Apple ecosystem.
Those who’ve been paying attention to the quietly percolating hi-res audio revolution may wonder about a decidedly un-Apple high-resolution audio file that’s become one of the most popular file formats: FLAC.
If you’re unfamiliar with FLAC, you might be asking: What are these high-resolution audio files? What is their advantage? And most importantly, how do you play them on your iOS device? Great questions! As always, we’re here to provide the answers.
What is FLAC, and why is it great?
FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio File. It’s a high-resolution audio file that has been compressed (usually from a large WAV file) so that it is more manageable to store. The “lossless” compression of the files means that they’re around half the size of a hi-res WAV file, but none of the information has been discarded. MP3 only takes up a few megabytes of space, but it is a “lossy” file, and dumps up to 90 percent of the original file via compression when it’s created. Yep — up to 90 percent of your favorite music is lost in translation when compressed to MP3. Some people will tell you that you can’t hear the difference, but these people are wrong (or they don’t have good enough listening equipment).
Since FLAC files support higher sample and bit rates than CDs (starting at 24 bits/48kHz), they more accurately reproduce organic audio when they’re played on speakers or in headphones — the higher the numbers, the better the reproduction. It’s also true that if you have better audio components in your playback device, your audio files will sound better, which is why players like Astell & Kern’s AK Jr are worth splurging on, for some. But there’s still an advantage to using hi-res files on your iOS devices.
Apple has its own version of FLAC files, called Apple Lossless Audio Files (ALAC), which have identical sonic properties. As such, iPhone owners may ask: Why use FLAC files at all? The reasons come down to content (what you already own), and sources (what you can get). There are several purveyors of high resolution audio files. The biggest, like HD Tracks, offer albums in full size WAVs — and Apple’s version, AIFFs — as well as FLACs, and ALACs. However, there are lots of websites that offer only the popular FLAC files. On top of that, you (or someone you know) may already own a few FLACs. FLAC is like the MP3 for high-resolution audio; it’s the standard.
How to convert FLAC files to ALAC (so your iPhone can read them)
You can’t really upload music to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod without going through iTunes, and it won’t accept FLAC files. The solution? Convert them to Apple’s ALAC format. Regardless of whether you have a PC or a Mac, though, you’ll need to get the right application to bring your FLAC files into the iTunes fold.
Before you start converting, make sure your preferences in iTunes are set correctly to preserve your files at their full sampling and bit rate. Otherwise, you could end up stepping down in resolution — and once a file steps down, it can’t step back up. That’s why converting to MP3s (or from them) is a pointless proposition when it comes to hi-res audio.
dBPowerAmp (PC, Mac)
For your audio file conversion needs, DBPowerAmp is the best choice. The software, compatible with Windows XP and up (as well as MacOS Mountain Lion or newer), can do all sorts of file conversions, as well as batch conversions (for multiple files at a time). The program is blissfully free of frustrating malware toolbars, and even allows for the addition of DSP effects like volume level and normalization.
Once your FLACs take a spin through this power wash, they’ll be ready to rock as ALACs on iTunes and, as such, on your iOS device. The only issue is that the program is pretty damned expensive, priced at $39 for a single PC, and $68 for the family pack. If you’re not convinced, you can try the software free for three weeks.
Any Audio Converter (PC)
If you don’t mind a few pop-up ads, Any Audio Converter is a great alternative for switching your files, and it’s totally free! The app covers just about any file format you’ll come across, and there’s a comprehensive set of instructions displayed on the website for ease of use. Keep in mind that, after conversion, ALAC audio files can appear as M4A files, since M4A is a container format for all Apple audio files.
Mediahuman (PC, Mac)
If you’re on a Mac, and you don’t want to pay to convert your music files, Mediahuman is (by far) the best way to go. Simply download and install the application, open it, and select ALAC from the dropdown menu at the top. From there, you can drag and drop FLAC files into the app, or use the “+” button to select files from your computer. Mediahuman is capable of converting multiple files simultaneously, it’s relatively fast, and there are no annoying pop-up ads. What’s not to like?
After using one of these applications to convert your audio to ALAC, you must import the files to iTunes, connect your iOS device, and sync your music files to load them the old fashioned way. Below are some more modern solutions.
The best FLAC apps for your iPhone
If you don’t want to take the time to convert your FLAC files to play them on your iPhone or iPad, there’s an app to solve this problem for you; in fact, there are several. Most of these apps work by circumventing the standard “sync” feature in iTunes, allowing you to share files directly to the app installed on your device. Once the app is installed, it should show up below your iPhone or iPad when connected to your computer. From there, you should be able to drag files from a folder directly to the app, and you’ll be set.
Frankly, life is often much easier if you just integrate the files with your iTunes library via the ALAC format. But, in case you have other plans, we’ve found some of the best apps available, all of which can be found through the app store on iTunes.
FLAC Player
The best option around as far as features and stability, this $10 app will do the trick, and even includes some pretty stellar features like a multi-band EQ, detailed file information, and more.
Golden Ear
If you want to save two dollars on an iOS app to play lossless, non-ALAC audio, Golden Ear will work. The app actually provides a lot of different functions — it can automatically decompress ZIP and RAR audio folders, apply tags and album art, and it even supports AirPlay. The app does add small gaps between tracks, so if you’re looking for a traditional way to listen to albums, you might be disappointed. But, hey, there are other options.
MoliPlayer
An all-in-one player which offers compatibility for a litany of different video and audio file types, MoliPlayer is free and fully-loaded, though it might nickel and dime you a bit with in-app purchases if you really dig deep into its features. MoliPlayer is limited to iPad use, as well, so you’ll need to explore different options if you want to listen to FLACs on your phone. If you’ve got an iPad, though, this baby will do what you need — and a whole lot more.
Updated on April 25, 2017 by Nick Hastings: Updated for accuracy with current software, and to include Golden Ear and Mediahuman.
7 things you can do to make your iPhone safer
Smartphones are quite possibly our most used devices. Think about the amount of personal and sensitive data that you have on your smartphone. The thought of it falling into the wrong hands is very scary. From credit card information to our personal photos, there’s a lot to protect, and smartphones must be handled with care when it comes to security.
The iOS platform has had some issues with vulnerabilities, and malware has even made its way into the App Store. One of the best things about iOS, however, is Apple’s ability to respond quickly to any problems by pushing updates to customers worldwide at the same time.
But you need to play your part to ensure iPhone security. Take action and enable all the features that iOS offers, so that even if your phone is lost or stolen, you’ll still have the ability to track it and wipe it remotely. The following guide will take you around iOS and show you some simple things that will make your iPhone more secure.
TouchID, Passcode, Apple ID, and tracking
Touch ID and Passcode
You need some lock screen security to prevent people from being able to access your iPhone. Touch ID is a great, convenient feature that allows you to use your fingerprint instead of having to type in a passcode. Many of the apps on the App Store, such as document apps, can use Touch ID for security, however, it may not be as secure as a really strong passcode. If you’re concerned about using your fingerprint for security, you can choose to use a passcode only. The most secure passcode would be an alphanumeric passcode that includes both letters and numbers. If you want to use a password that is difficult to crack, we suggest that you use numbers, letters, and symbols.
To set up an alphanumeric passcode you can follow these steps.
Step 1: Go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode > Turn On Passcode. If you already have a passcode tap Change Passcode.Step 2: Tap on Passcode Options.Step 3: Select Custom Alphanumeric Code.
Alphanumeric passwords are the hardest to crack. Believe it or not, some of the most popular passwords are 12345678 or Administrator. Alphanumeric passwords allow you to have numbers, letters, and symbols such as @, #, or &.
When it comes to security, a normal 4-digit numeric password has only 10,000 possible combinations. A hacker will be able to get this password in no time at all using a program. In iOS you have the option to create alphanumeric passwords of up to 37 characters. The more characters you use, the harder it will be to crack. As a comparison, if you used all 37 character combinations of numbers, letters, and symbols, the total jumps to around six duovigintillion possible combinations (or 77 to the 37th power). It would be virtually impossible to guess this password, but it may be impossible to remember it, too.
Apple ID and Two-Factor Authentication
When you first set up your iPhone, you should take the time to make an Apple ID. Your Apple ID works with iCloud, App Store, and even iMessage. The Apple ID is your Apple email address that ends in @icloud.com or @me.com. If you don’t have one, you can just create one using your current email address, such as Gmail.
Once you have an Apple ID, you should set up two-factor authentication. Once you set this up, nobody will be able to access your account, even if they have your password. When someone tries to access your account, a code will be sent to your device which allows you to log in. If you remember our story on the iCloud hack, then you know how important this can be.
Follow these steps to set up two-factor authentication.
Step 1: In iOS 10.3 or later, go to Settings > [user’s name] > Password & Security. If you’re using iOS 10.2 or earlier, go to Settings > iCloud > [your Apple ID] > Password & Security.Step 2: Select Turn On Two-Factor Authentication.Step 3: Follow the on-screen instructions if you’re asked your Apple ID security questions.Step 4: Add a trusted phone number.
Tracking, Location Access, and Find My iPhone
Did you know that your iPhone can track you? If Frequent Locations is enabled, your iPhone will save your location every time you connect to Wi-Fi. You can stop your iPhone from saving these locations by going to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Frequent Locations. Once you’re there, you can turn the option off, and also you can tap Clear History to get rid of any saved locations on your iOS device.
While you’re in Location Services, you may want to take a look at which apps have access to your location. Every app that needs your location will ask you to allow it to access your location first. You can opt to limit access only while the app is in use, or you can deny access altogether.
Find my iPhone will enable you to locate, and even remotely erase, your iOS device in case it is lost or stolen. You have to make sure that the location services setting is turned on by going into Settings > Privacy > Location Services. To enable Find My iPhone go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Find My iPhone. After that, you can go to iCloud.com to locate your smartphone and access it remotely.
How to use Airplane Mode on your iPhone or Android smartphone
Airplane mode is a quick and handy way to turn off the cellular and data connections on your device. As the name suggests, you can toggle this mode when you fly in an airplane, but its uses can also extend to saving battery life, curbing data usage, and even fixing various connection issues.
For example, if you’re seeing temporary drops in your cellular connection, toggling Airplane mode on and off can sometimes reconnect your device to the internet.
The most important thing to understand is that Airplane mode will turn off connections on your device, including cellular data, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. That means you will not receive any calls, but you can turn Wi-Fi or Bluetooth back on again and connect to a Wi-Fi network or device while Airplane mode is enabled.
How to turn on Airplane mode in Android
How to turn on Airplane Mode from the Quick Settings menu
If you want to turn Airplane mode on or off while on the lock screen, swipe down from the notification area to reveal the Quick Settings menu.
Toggle Airplane mode on.
If you want to turn on Airplane mode while on the home screen, it works the same way. Swipe down from the notification area twice or swipe down once with two fingers to reveal the Quick Settings toggles.
Toggle Airplane mode on.
How to turn on Airplane Mode from the Settings menu
Go to Settings.
Tap More in the Wireless & Networks section.
Toggle Airplane Mode on.
When Airplane mode is on, you will see an airplane icon in the notification bar.
How to turn on Airplane mode in iOS
How to turn on Airplane mode from the Control Center
Swipe up from from the bottom of any screen.
Tap the airplane icon in the upper-left corner.
How to turn on Airplane Mode from the Settings menu
Go to Settings.
Toggle Airplane mode on.
When Airplane Mode is on, you will see an airplane icon in the notification bar.
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