Your old phone sits, languishing, in a drawer, ignored on a bookshelf; perhaps it's propping open a door. It doesn't have to be this way. You have plenty of ways to reuse your old smartphone. Sure, you could sell your old smartphone, but why bother when there are so many ways for you to reuse it? Here are 10 ways you can make your old smartphone useful again. 1. Your Old Phone Is a VR Headset! No,

USB drives are convenient, but you can’t use one with your phone. Well, unless you have an Android phone and know what USB OTG means. USB On-The-Go (OTG) is a standardized specification that allows a device to read data from a USB device without requiring a PC. With an OTG cable, the device itself becomes the USB host. You can do a lot over an OTG connection, like connecting a USB flash drive or a

Let's get one thing right: there are no stupid questions, especially in the realm of tech. Technology advances at such a rapid pace that it's easy to be left in the dust, so it's normal to have questions. That being said, when you need tech-related help, how you ask your questions is often more important than what you're asking -- and if you don't ask properly, many knowledgeable IT folks will ign

For many of us, Google Maps has become an integral part of daily life. If that describes you, then there are several Google Maps tricks and tips that you should be using to get the most out of it features. But a growing number of users are now complaining that Google Maps is slow and bloated -- and they aren't wrong. Smarter algorithms and higher-definition images are great, but they cost at the c

The Internet is angry at Microsoft. After promising unlimited storage with the Office 365 subscription, and 15 GB of storage for free users, the company has reneged on its promise. All because some users apparently abused the system. In 2016, the following changes will be implemented: Office 365 users will no longer get unlimited storage. It will be reduced to 1 TB. Free users will no longer get 1

The Windows Administrator Account is a useful tool you can use for finding and repairing issues -- but starting with Vista, Microsoft disabled the account due to the User Account Control feature. With UAC, any user account can temporarily run programs as Administrator, making the Windows Administrator Account obsolete. Or is it? If you want full administrator access for good, and you aren't conten

Sometimes, you might want to view your Android phone's screen on your computer. How do you do that? A few years ago, the best methods required you to root your Android device. But you can now easily mirror Android to your desktop or laptop without rooting. We'll walk you through the simple steps to display an Android phone screen on your PC or Mac. Why Should You Mirror Android to Your PC? Why wou

You buy a larger desk and file away supplies so that you can have more workspace. When you have a limited area to work in, things get cluttered and piled on top of each other. You end up wasting valuable time to get to the items you need, if you can even find them. The same can be said for your monitor space. Why squish and squeeze your much-needed workspace? Treat it like your desk and expand it

Despite having used Firefox in the past, having dipped my toes in the water with Safari and Opera, and even going totally crazy after using Internet Explorer for 10 minutes, somehow I always seem to come back to Chrome. And it's easy to see why. The number of Chrome plugins is huge, and when a developer makes a plugin, it always seems to be for Chrome only these days. Almost as if Firefox doesn't

Windows' strength is customization and it doesn't stop at shutting down. You can end your session or reboot your system in various ways, many offering more convenience and control than the Start menu. We all know how to reboot our computers from the Start menu, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. There are loads of other methods you can use for a reboot, many offering much more convenience and

The digital world may tempt you to jump on the information technology wagon. But is it the right choice for you? You have to make a decision. Ask yourself these seven questions. A career in tech is something on the minds of millions of people around the globe, but how do you know if this path is right for you? What questions do you need to ask yourself to ensure you're making the right decision? B

Use your MacBook or Apple keyboard to type on your iPhone or iPad, without wrestling with the touchscreen. Your iPhone’s tiny screen doesn’t make for a great keyboard. Typing on an iPad can be awkward too, since the touchscreen keyboard is so big. You can get an Apple or third-party keyboard that pairs with these devices to make typing easier, but those can be expensive. Why not use the MacBook or

When it comes to organization and productivity, to-do lists are the ultimate tool. But at some point, they turn into yet another excuse for procrastination. Who needs so many to-do lists anyway? The three types we have listed below will do. They'll give you all the list-making power you need without a complicated system that takes up too much time. Why Make Lists at All? Research into human psycho

Lack of experimental creativity hampers programming; open-mindedness and willingness to try new approaches are essential for success. Independence and self-motivation are also vital; the ability to solve problems and continuously learn is necessary to thrive. Logical thinking and a passion for solving puzzles are crucial. Without these traits, coding can be frustrating and unrewarding. Is programm

How can you make your smartphone or tablet battery last longer? Forget apps, we're talking about good practice here: how you treat your phone, when and how often to charge it, and how these things differ across battery types. With more and more devices being produced with unibody cases, there is a greater requirement to make batteries last longer. After all, there's no longer an option to replace

The smart, connected home is a rapidly growing market, with home owners seeking ways to make the devices within their house communicate with their smartphones, PCs, and tablet. But what about around your home? Sure, having a connected doorbell is cool, but how about a connected garden? Turns out, a smart garden is completely possible, thanks to the devices we are going to take a look at today. Gre

One of the hardest elements is concocting a great lede; ledes being the one chance you have of persuading readers to commit to an article in full. Here are five tips to start well. Writing for the Web is a skill that's easy to learn but difficult to master. One of the hardest elements is concocting a great lede; ledes being the one chance you have of persuading readers to commit to an article in f

Video conferencing isn't something most people get excited about. Until recently, the field has been dominated by the likes of Polycom and Cisco in the enterprise sphere, and Skype and Google Plus picking up the slack in the consumer sphere. Commonly, video conferencing hasn't been done especially well. For the most part Skype stutters and glitches out more than a Max Headroom marathon, even with

Living in the Internet era has changed us to such an extent that the idea of having to live completely offline even for a little while sounds like a prison sentence. But it really isn't. Any day now, some biologist will declare that the DNA of the average 21st-century person is organized not into chromosomes, but into IP addresses. I, for one, won't be shocked by any such announcement, because tha

Teachers and programmers are now working together and sharing their relative expertise because they care deeply about teaching computing to young people. Here are some of the most innovative ways to do just that. Readers like you help support MUO. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More. Programming conferences are unlikely places to find te