How to Set Up Your Sweet New iPad Whoa! You got a new iPad for [insert religious/secular observance here]? That’s awesome! Have yo...
Driving the 2015 Chrysler 300, where every day is Father's Day
2015 Chrysler 300: First Drive Chrysler’s full-size, rear-wheel-drive 300 is America’s last true “dad car.” With its strong hood, broad ...
25 Essential Apps for Your New Android Phone
If you were lucky enough to receive your very first Android phone as a holiday present this year, you’ll want to do the following imme...
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Sunday 18 January 2015
How to Set Up Your Sweet New iPad
How to Set Up Your Sweet New iPad
Whoa! You got a new iPad for [insert religious/secular observance here]? That’s awesome! Have you set it up yet? No? Why not?
Oh, you need some help? No worries; that’s kind of our thing here. So go grab your iPad (Air or mini, it doesn’t matter) and let’s rock.
Getting started
1. Power it up.Once you unwrap your iPad, and breathe in the wonderful scent of fresh electronics, the next thing you’ll want to do is to give your new best friend life. To do that, you’ll have to find the power button on the iPad’s top edge.
Hold the button down for a few seconds until the tablet’s screen lights up with the Apple logo. Don’t get too excited, though; we’ve still got a few more steps ahead of us before your iPad is ready to go.
2. The setup.First things first: Let’s configure your iPad. When the onscreen Apple logo disappears, you’ll be greeted by a screen that says “Hello” in a variety of languages. Swipe from left to right, and we can get started.
On the next few pages, you’ll be asked to select your language and country. Next, you’ll want to select your Wi-Fi network.
Up next, Location Services. If you’re going to be doing things like checking the weather in your area, or using Apple Maps, then Location Services is worth turning on. If not, keep it switched off, as it will put a serious drain on your iPad’s battery.
Next you’ll be asked if you want to set up your iPad as a new iPad, or if you want to restore it from an iCloud or iTunes backup. If this is your first iPad, then go with New iPad.
If this is a replacement for an older iPad, then you can restore it with an iCloud or iTunes backup to automatically load all your previously purchased content and personal data onto your new iPad.
3. Using Apple ID.Let’s talk Apple ID. If you’ve used an Apple product before, chances are you already have one of these. It’s the username and password combination you use to purchase things from the iTunes and App stores. If you have one, just tap Sign In with Your Apple ID so you can use your existing account on your new iPad.
Don’t have an Apple ID? Then you’ll want to tap Create a Free Apple ID and follow the instructions on the following pages to make one.
4. iCloud and Find My iPad.Next up, iCloud. Apple’s iCloud lets you save your photos, contacts, music, and other data to the cloud, so that it’s accessible on all your other Apple devices, as well as your Windows PC. Most people will want to enable this feature.
When you enable iCloud, you also automatically turn on Apple’s Find My iPad feature, which can help you locate your tablet if you misplaced it or it’s stolen. If your iPad is pilfered, Find My iPad will also let you lock it and erase it remotely. You definitely want this turned on.
5. Securing your iPad.Passcode and Touch ID are up next. Both features provide you with a means to lock your iPad without anyone else getting in. Passcode is a simple four-digit code that you enter on the iPad’s lock screen to gain access to the slate.
Touch ID is the fingerprint reader built into the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3’s Home buttons. But Touch ID isn’t just about locking down your tablet. It can also be used to make secure online purchases.
If you got an Air 2 or mini 3, you’ll definitely want to set up Touch ID. To do so, you’ll have to press the finger you want to register on the Home button multiple times at a variety of angles until the iPad is able to easily read it.
Don’t have an Air 2 or mini 3? Then set up a passcode to secure your iPad.
The next few pages will ask if you want to use Apple’s Siri voice assistant and if you want to send diagnostic information about the iPad to Apple and analytics to app developers to help them improve their apps. Make your selections, and you’re all set to use your new iPad.
Some quick housekeepingOnce your iPad is ready to go, there are a few things you’ll want to know how to use. The first is the Control Center, which is accessible by swiping one finger up from the bottom of the screen toward the top.
From here, you can quickly toggle your iPad’s Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Airplane mode, and Do Not Disturb mode. You can also adjust the screen brightness and volume, as well as control music playback and open the Camera app.
If you’re worried about your iPad’s battery life, it’s important to remember that the brighter the screen, the more power it will use. What’s more, if you aren’t using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Location settings, then it’s best to switch them off, as they will all leech your battery’s power. All of that can be accomplished from the Control Center.
Beyond Control Center, you’ll also want to know how to use the Notifications Center. Accessible by swiping down from the top of the iPad’s home screen, Notifications Center is home to all your app notifications.
From here you can see who’s been messaging you on Facebook and Twitter, as well as check the day’s schedule. And, with iOS 8, you can add app widgets to the Notifications Center that provide you with a snapshot of your favorite apps.
That’s about all you need to know to get started. Want to know more about your sweet new tablet? Check out our guide to iOS 8, and don’t forget to check out our favorite iPad apps for some suggestions on what to download.
Sunday 11 January 2015
Driving the 2015 Chrysler 300, where every day is Father's Day
2015 Chrysler 300: First Drive
Chrysler’s full-size, rear-wheel-drive 300 is America’s last true “dad car.” With its strong hood, broad shoulders and paternal gaze, the 300 sedan is bold, confident and unmistakably American. It’s been a successful car for Chrysler, too — sales are up 48% in the four years since its last redesign — and for its 2015 update, Chrysler seems bent on not messing with success when the updated 300 starts arriving in dealerships in the first quarter of 2015.
Compared to the massively reworked 2015 Dodge Charger (which, to continue the metaphor, would be your fun uncle's car), this is as safe as a refresh gets, involving only new front and rear bumpers, grilles, wheels, and all-LED taillamps. Sport-flavored 300S models also now get blackout window trim to go with darkened headlamp bezels and gorgeous new 20-inch Y-spoke wheels; if there’s a Hemi V-8 under the hood, the 300S also gets standard sill extensions and big lip spoiler. But at the end of the day, the 300 looks more or less the same.
Interior upgrades are just as subtle, which is fine, as dads are usually suspicious of anything that changes too quickly. The blue instrument cluster is the most obvious difference, with its chronograph-inspired gauges flanking an easy-to-use, seven-inch high-resolution driver information display. The gear selector has been replaced by a Jaguar-style rotary e-shifter, and a pair of USB ports have been added in back so that kids or, just as likely, livery customers can charge their devices without cluttering up the front half of the cabin. And as ever, an analog clock remains front and center on the dash, like a grandfather clock for the car.
The 300’s revised model lineup leaves no model underequipped, with even the base $32,390 Limited model boasting standard leather seats, Chrysler’s intuitive 8.4-inch touchscreen Uconnect system, keyless starting, heated 12-way power front seats, capless fuel filling, and more. Chrysler expects that about 45 percent of buyers will opt for the Limited, while 15 percent will choose the more luxurious $38,890 300C model with its standard dual-pane moonroof, Nappa leather, hand-sanded wood, polished wheels, rear window sunshade, and navigation. A select few (about five percent) will get the new-for-’15, fully loaded 300C Platinum model ($43,390) with its diamond-stitched hides, open pore wood, leather-wrapped dashboard, platinum silver trim, 20-inch wheels, and a 900-watt, 19-speaker Harman/Kardon surround sound system. The remaining 35 percent, Chrysler estimates, will come in 300S guise, which start at $35,890 and get everything in the Limited, plus piano black and “carbon hyrdographic” trim, a 552-watt Beats sound system and a slew of performance upgrades, which we’ll get to later.
All 300 trim levels come standard with Chrysler’s Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 and rear-wheel drive. Limited, 300C and Platinum grades get the 292-hp version of the V-6, while 300S models get a 300-horse version with a tweaked exhaust system. If that’s not enough, grunt, 300S, 300C and Platinum models are available with a 363-hp Hemi V-8, the only eight-pot in the class (save for the Charger, of coures), and for the first time, every 300s comes with Chrysler’s sweet, decisive eight-speed automatic.
We took Chrysler up on its offer to drive the 2015 300 on the beautiful Hill Country roads around Austin, Texas, spending some quality wheel-time in an all-wheel-drive 300 Limited, a rear-wheel-drive 300S, and a Hemi-powered 300C. Not surprisingly, we found that the V-6 models required some cajoling to get moving with any gusto, especially when sadled with all-wheel drive, which adds another 206 pounds to the 300’s two-ton weight. Efficiency remains impressive for a full-sizer, however, with 19/31 mpg for the rear-drive model and 18/27 for the all-wheel-drive version.
The V-8 models, on the other hand, handles any acceleration requests as effortlessly as dad opening a jar — Chrysler says that the eight-speed lobbed 0.2 seconds off the V-8’s 0-60 time, to under six seconds for the Hemi-powered 300S. The penalty? Like some dads we know, this one drinks a lot: just 16/25 mpg, an improvement of one mile per gallon on the highway, but still not great.
The 300C and every all-wheel-drive 300 ride on the same “Touring” suspension, which includes 19-inch wheels with all-season tires. Thus equipped, the 300 floats nicely over bumps and undulations but is nothing we’d characterize as fun — a feel familiar to 300 buyers after more than a decade of using the now-ancient Mercedes-based chassis. The 300S, on the other hand, receives a new-for-‘15 “Sport” suspension boasting stiffer springs front and back,
as well as unique shock tuning, a larger front stabilizer bar, and a unique electric power steering calibration. Steering effort and feel are increased considerably when the “Sport” button on the dash is pressed, which also puts the engine/transmission in a more excited state, quickening shifts. Thus equipped, the 300S becomes a far more gifted dance partner on country roads; finally there's a agile 300, albeit not quite at the level of the Cadillac CTS or a BMW 5-Series. If ever there was a car for “cool” dads, the 300S is the one.
So Chrysler chose not to change it too drastically even when it had the chance this time, but that’s just fine, as the 300 was already quite comfortable in its own skin. As a big, solid, rear-drive luxury sedan that come stacked with goodies for about the same price as the tiny Audi A3 or Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, it’s easy to see why.
Chrysler’s full-size, rear-wheel-drive 300 is America’s last true “dad car.” With its strong hood, broad shoulders and paternal gaze, the 300 sedan is bold, confident and unmistakably American. It’s been a successful car for Chrysler, too — sales are up 48% in the four years since its last redesign — and for its 2015 update, Chrysler seems bent on not messing with success when the updated 300 starts arriving in dealerships in the first quarter of 2015.
Compared to the massively reworked 2015 Dodge Charger (which, to continue the metaphor, would be your fun uncle's car), this is as safe as a refresh gets, involving only new front and rear bumpers, grilles, wheels, and all-LED taillamps. Sport-flavored 300S models also now get blackout window trim to go with darkened headlamp bezels and gorgeous new 20-inch Y-spoke wheels; if there’s a Hemi V-8 under the hood, the 300S also gets standard sill extensions and big lip spoiler. But at the end of the day, the 300 looks more or less the same.
Interior upgrades are just as subtle, which is fine, as dads are usually suspicious of anything that changes too quickly. The blue instrument cluster is the most obvious difference, with its chronograph-inspired gauges flanking an easy-to-use, seven-inch high-resolution driver information display. The gear selector has been replaced by a Jaguar-style rotary e-shifter, and a pair of USB ports have been added in back so that kids or, just as likely, livery customers can charge their devices without cluttering up the front half of the cabin. And as ever, an analog clock remains front and center on the dash, like a grandfather clock for the car.
The 300’s revised model lineup leaves no model underequipped, with even the base $32,390 Limited model boasting standard leather seats, Chrysler’s intuitive 8.4-inch touchscreen Uconnect system, keyless starting, heated 12-way power front seats, capless fuel filling, and more. Chrysler expects that about 45 percent of buyers will opt for the Limited, while 15 percent will choose the more luxurious $38,890 300C model with its standard dual-pane moonroof, Nappa leather, hand-sanded wood, polished wheels, rear window sunshade, and navigation. A select few (about five percent) will get the new-for-’15, fully loaded 300C Platinum model ($43,390) with its diamond-stitched hides, open pore wood, leather-wrapped dashboard, platinum silver trim, 20-inch wheels, and a 900-watt, 19-speaker Harman/Kardon surround sound system. The remaining 35 percent, Chrysler estimates, will come in 300S guise, which start at $35,890 and get everything in the Limited, plus piano black and “carbon hyrdographic” trim, a 552-watt Beats sound system and a slew of performance upgrades, which we’ll get to later.
All 300 trim levels come standard with Chrysler’s Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 and rear-wheel drive. Limited, 300C and Platinum grades get the 292-hp version of the V-6, while 300S models get a 300-horse version with a tweaked exhaust system. If that’s not enough, grunt, 300S, 300C and Platinum models are available with a 363-hp Hemi V-8, the only eight-pot in the class (save for the Charger, of coures), and for the first time, every 300s comes with Chrysler’s sweet, decisive eight-speed automatic.
We took Chrysler up on its offer to drive the 2015 300 on the beautiful Hill Country roads around Austin, Texas, spending some quality wheel-time in an all-wheel-drive 300 Limited, a rear-wheel-drive 300S, and a Hemi-powered 300C. Not surprisingly, we found that the V-6 models required some cajoling to get moving with any gusto, especially when sadled with all-wheel drive, which adds another 206 pounds to the 300’s two-ton weight. Efficiency remains impressive for a full-sizer, however, with 19/31 mpg for the rear-drive model and 18/27 for the all-wheel-drive version.
The V-8 models, on the other hand, handles any acceleration requests as effortlessly as dad opening a jar — Chrysler says that the eight-speed lobbed 0.2 seconds off the V-8’s 0-60 time, to under six seconds for the Hemi-powered 300S. The penalty? Like some dads we know, this one drinks a lot: just 16/25 mpg, an improvement of one mile per gallon on the highway, but still not great.
The 300C and every all-wheel-drive 300 ride on the same “Touring” suspension, which includes 19-inch wheels with all-season tires. Thus equipped, the 300 floats nicely over bumps and undulations but is nothing we’d characterize as fun — a feel familiar to 300 buyers after more than a decade of using the now-ancient Mercedes-based chassis. The 300S, on the other hand, receives a new-for-‘15 “Sport” suspension boasting stiffer springs front and back,
as well as unique shock tuning, a larger front stabilizer bar, and a unique electric power steering calibration. Steering effort and feel are increased considerably when the “Sport” button on the dash is pressed, which also puts the engine/transmission in a more excited state, quickening shifts. Thus equipped, the 300S becomes a far more gifted dance partner on country roads; finally there's a agile 300, albeit not quite at the level of the Cadillac CTS or a BMW 5-Series. If ever there was a car for “cool” dads, the 300S is the one.
So Chrysler chose not to change it too drastically even when it had the chance this time, but that’s just fine, as the 300 was already quite comfortable in its own skin. As a big, solid, rear-drive luxury sedan that come stacked with goodies for about the same price as the tiny Audi A3 or Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, it’s easy to see why.
Sunday 4 January 2015
25 Essential Apps for Your New Android Phone
If you were lucky enough to receive your very first Android phone as a holiday present this year, you’ll want to do the following immediately:
First, give a big and sloppy kiss to the angel-winged genius that gifted it to you. Then get to downloading some apps!
Here are Yahoo Tech’s picks for the 25 Google Play store apps you’ll want to grab first for your new Android phone.
1. Gmail: Nope, the Gmail app doesn’t come preinstalled on Android devices. Start enjoying Google’s great email service on your new phone ASAP by making this one of the first apps you download.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
2. Twitter: Don’t let Wall Street’s reluctance to embrace Twitter stop you from downloading the service’s fantastic Android app. You won’t want to miss out on all the 140-character bursts of knowledge, humor, and news. Trust us.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
3. Instagram: It’s one of the most popular photo-sharing services out there. You’ll love the way your selfies look through Instagram’s selection of “retro” photo filters.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
4. Facebook: The social networking app for posts, pokes, and polemics is a great time-waster.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
5. Google Maps: Sure, Google Maps is great for exploring new neighborhoods … or countries. But even if you like to keep it local, this app is a must-have with its built-in Zagat ratings and live traffic information.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
6. Seamless/GrubHub: These apps take the “call-in” part out of getting great eats delivered to your home.
7. Chrome: Google’s Chrome is the most popular Web browser in the U.S. The Android version will sync with all your Chrome desktop browsing history and bookmarks, too.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
8. YouTube: The most popular video site on the planet. With this app on your phone, you won’t have to miss out on the latest and greatest music video or cute animal clip.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
9. Vine: Addictive looping six-second videos. Funny, cute stuff.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
10. Evernote: Create, save, and sync notes across all your mobile and desktop devices with the Evernote Android app.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
11. Square Cash: Probably the winner of the “Easiest Way to Send Money with Your Phone” award. It’s free, too.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
12. Google Drive: It’s the Android app for Google’s cloud storage service. Upload files from your phone or access others that have been uploaded from your computer or tablet devices.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
13. Facebook Messenger: Facebook has made it necessary to download a second app for sending and reading private Facebook messages on your phone. In other words, if you want to chat with your old high school classmates via your Android phone, you’ll have to get it.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
14. Spotify: The Android app for the best streaming music service around is a must. Stream virtually any song you can think of (aside from anything in the Taylor Swift discography) while you’re on the move.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
15. Feedly: RIP Google Reader. Use this gorgeous RSS reader app instead to catch up on all your news in one place.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
16. Heads Up! You may recognize this Password-like game from The Ellen DeGeneres Show, but the Android app version is just as much fun.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
17. Amazon Kindle: Bring your Kindle ebook collection to your Android phone by simply installing this app and signing in.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
18. Yelp: Read and post ratings on this wildly popular business-rating service while on the go.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
19. Foursquare/Swarm: These apps connect you to Foursquare’s popular social “check-in” service. Its new Swarm breakout makes it easier to see what your friends are up to.
20. Google Hangouts: Google’s Hangouts lets Android owners text, send pictures, and video chat across other computer and mobile device platforms (even iPhones), and without a carrier texting plan.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
21. WhatsApp: WhatsApp has more users around the world than any other mobile texting app. Join the largest instant messaging party on the planet!
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
22. Snapchat: The most popular way to send sneaky messages on Android, Snapchat is a staple. Get silly or get scandalous; just download this app.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
23. CamScanner: Pack that bulky, power-wasting scanner away and import documents painlessly using just this app and your Android phone’s camera.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
24. The Weather Channel: With The Weather Channel’s Android app, you can put customizable forecast widgets right on your phone’s home screen.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
25. RunKeeper: Strap your Android phone on and track all your walking, jogging or biking miles. Compare workouts with friends right from the app, too.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
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