Since Android 11, Pixel phones can suggest recently used apps in the app drawer and home screen. This feature can help you quickly find a recently closed app, but if you want total control over your phone's app layout, you may want to turn off this feature. We show you how to turn off Pixel app recommendations on the Pixel Tablet or any Pixel phone running Android 11 or later, including the latest Pixel 8 series. If you just picked up the Pixel 8 or 8 Pro, change these settings immediately after turning off app recommendations.

When you purchase something instead of renting, you typically get to completely own the product and use it whichever way or however long you want. But things aren’t as straightforward when it comes to owning digital media as that buy button is, in a way, meaningless, since you never get to own that piece of content. Even if you spend a lot of money buying movies and TV shows from services like Google TV, the ownership is subject to Google’s terms and, in many cases, whim.

Buying a phone these days presents a lot of options, and when you're looking for a device for your child, you may be blown away by just how pricey it can be. The good news is there are a lot more affordable Android phones out there than you may think, and the value they bring to the table makes them great devices for your kids.

We often don't realize how long we are asleep or the quality of sleep we acquire every night. In fact, the CDC states between 50 and 70 million Americans live with chronic sleep disorders. When it comes to our sleeping habits, sleep-tracking apps paint a bigger picture. We can track how many hours we sleep, the quality of our sleep, and other important data.

The Google Wallet app has undergone a few changes over the last several weeks. Last month, the app added an extra layer of verification for transit payments. Not much later, Google began asking Wallet users on Android phones to re-verify their identity after three minutes, regardless of whether the phone was in use or not. It now looks like this phenomenon could also spread to Wear OS devices, at least based on multiple user reports on Reddit.

Computers and mobile devices will store data temporarily to reduce the load speeds of apps, programs, and websites. But as files accumulate, your device's performance starts to suffer. Clearing the cache helps. You can remove old files (and sometimes corrupted ones) by performing this action.

Samsung's S Pen has become synonymous with advanced stylus functionality for its flagship smartphones and tablets. From its humble beginnings with the Galaxy Note series to becoming a part of the latest Galaxy S24 Ultra, the S Pen has come to offer features like pressure sensitivity, tilt recognition, and convenient Bluetooth controls for remote actions.

Early adopters of technology are only as active as their budget allows. Given that new and innovative devices are generally quite expensive at the onset, trying out new tech without the proper funds can often be futile. This was my experience with foldable phones. While I’ve been champing at the bit to get my hands on one of these malleable devices since the first Samsung Galaxy Fold hit the shelves in 2019, the price tags were consistently in the four-digit range — far too expensive to justify for an average smartphone upgrade.

Motorola has been making cell phones since they were big bulky affairs that needed to be installed in cars or briefcases. So naturally, it was also one of the first companies to eagerly embrace the new era of mainstream smartphones in the late 2000s. Motorola's 2009 release of the Droid was instrumental in turning Android into the dominant force it is today, and that's grown into a wide range of devices covering every conceivable price range and need.

The Kindle Scribe is an excellent e-reader for those who want more than just an e-reader. As Amazon's biggest Kindle model to date, the Scribe incorporates stylus support and advanced productivity features, so easily switching from note-taking to reading is possible. However, with its 10.2-inch display, the Scribe's unprecedented size makes it the bulkiest and least portable of the Kindle family, which could point to a higher risk of drops, scuffs, and scratches.