If you’re using a stock version of Android (4.3+), then you have access to a list of recent notifications through a settings widget. However, this widget is missing from many of the skinned carrier/manufacturer versions of the mobile OS. As a solution, Notif Log, an app recently suggested by Android Authority, will keep track of …

If you were on the Internet in the ’90s, then you may be familiar with ASCII art. This refers to using text characters to create a picture. Enlarge Image Instagram photo tuned into ASCII art. Photo by Nicole Cozma/CNET Thanks to a trick shared on The Next Web, you can easily create your own ASCII art with photos you’ve shared …

If you’re the owner of a Galaxy S6 Edge or S6 Edge+, you can use the heart rate sensor to reject incoming calls. This feature is useful because you won’t have to fumble with a case to press the volume button, or turn the screen on to use the software rejection options. Instead, you can place your finger over the …

The most recent update to Google Hangouts includes a handful of cosmetic changes, the ability to quick reply from the notification shade, and something new: conversation shortcuts. The conversation shortcut feature is very similar to Facebook Messenger’s chat heads. However, instead of using a bubble that floats on your screen (and over other apps), Google decided that shortcuts will be …

Chrome for Android offers the touch to search feature, which lets you perform search queries without heading to Google’s homepage. This works by pressing and holding on a word or phrase until an overlay pops up at the bottom of the screen, which you can then tap on to complete a search and display results. If this feature sounds useful, …

Update 01/24/2016: The original Chrome extension suggested within this post has been replaced with an alternative one after receiving feedback from readers. (Thanks everyone!) Chrome handles downloads by adding them to a bar along the bottom of the screen, which can be clicked to open the file or file’s location. Closing this bar means removing your shortcut to the file, …

When you’re not happy with a new photo or video, you can tap the recent media shortcut in your camera and delete it. For users syncing to Google Photos, this takes several steps, since a copy will also be synced to cloud storage. To streamline this process, there’s a shortcut to jump from your camera to Google Photos. The shortcut …

There are a lot of to-do lists available on the Google Play store. Each has its own bells and whistles like lists, recurring tasks, missed call reminders and more. However, these elaborate management apps don’t work for everyone. Sometimes you just need a list that is omnipresent, like a Post-It Note on the edge of your monitor. Collateral is a …

Google’s own product, the Chromecast, has required an extension to stream content from your Web browser to your TV since its release. However, as AndroidPolice points out, a recent update to the Chrome browser will let you enable a flag to get the same functionality. Here’s how: Step 1: Head to chrome://flags/#media-router from your Chrome address bar. Note: If you …

Each Android phone has an image it applies to your contacts that don’t have a photo. Whether it’s a generic silhouette, a two-color monogram, or a random color block, all of these options are a bit bland. If you want an easy way to make the images more interesting, then look no further than Micopi. This free app, recommended by …