smartphones Archives - Rick's Daily Tips

How to see which Android apps have access to your Contacts (and optionally revoke it)

Posted on June 6, 2025

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If you have a smartphone or tablet, you’re probably aware that the apps on your device have permission to access certain features and caches of info that are present on the device.

While it’s true that you have the option to revoke most any permission that an app might claim for itself, do you actually take the time to review your apps’ permissions and revoke the ones the apps really don’t need in order to perform their stated functions?

If you’re like most folks, the answer is probably no. [Read more…]

How to call someone directly from your Android phone’s Home screen

Posted on May 31, 2025

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To make a call on your Android phone, you probably open the Phone app, tap Contacts, select the person you wish to call from a long list of contacts, and initiate the call by tapping the Call button.

Well here’s a little tip that can make the process of calling someone you call often a lot faster… [Read more…]

Use your old smartphone or tablet as a wireless security camera

Posted on April 15, 2025

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Like most households these days, yours probably has one or more old smartphones and/or tablets that were retired to a junk drawer after upgrading to a new device.

Well, here’s a little tip for putting those outdated, but completely functional devices to good use… [Read more…]

How to instantly silence a ringing smartphone

Posted on July 4, 2024

Have you ever been in a setting where complete silence was expected only to have your smart phone start ringing?

Whether it was during a church service, an important business meeting or in a packed movie theater, it was probably quite an embarrassing event.

In all likelihood you panicked and started fumbling around trying to get the phone out of your pocket so you could tap “Decline” as quickly as possible to make the ringing stop.

[Read more…]

Q&A: Is there an app to override Straight Talk’s monthly data cap?

Posted on June 20, 2024

Question from Erin: I have a Straight Talk phone and I have a question about the amount of data it’s using.

I always buy the $35 card and I often use up my 10GB of data several days before the month is over. I absolutely hate it when they switch my phone to slower speed.

My friend told me there’s an app that will let me bypass the data cap on my Straight Talk plan but he can’t remember the name of it. I searched the Google Play store high and low but couldn’t find it.

I think he might be just trying to pull one over on me. Am I right or is there really an app that will do this? [Read more…]