About Kannon Yamada
Kannon Yamada holds degrees in Journalism (BA) and International Affairs (MA). He has written about Android, Home Office, Wellness, and Hardware Reviews since 2010. He started at MakeUseOf Answers in 2010, editing it from 2013 until 2015. Since then, he developed and edited the Buyer's Guide section (2016-2018), and currently is MakeUseOf's SEO Researcher.
Latest Articles
Five Killer Ways to Use Google Tasks
If you're like me, you spend more time managing your tasks than you do actually performing them. It’s all about multiple lists, offline access and getting your tasks on-the-go. Since we last took a look at Google Tasks in 2009, the service has changed considerably, adding an array of features – most notably among them being Google Calendar integration. Additionally, Tasks received integration into dozens of smartphone apps, as well as getting offline access in Thunderbird. So - it's time for us to take another look at Google Tasks and its many uses.
3 Foolproof Ways to Create Your Own Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot for Tethering in North America
Do you want to give multiple wireless gadgets on-the-go internet access? Are you sick of getting ripped off by wireless hotspot tethering? There’s a variety of technologies that can help you – the two most prominent being at the intersection between MVNO networks and portable Wi-Fi hotspot devices. It’s not simply a new way of doing things – it’s a lifestyle change requiring a mixture of software and hardware. However, in the end, rolling your own Wi-Fi network is an absolute steal.
The Quest For The Best Nexus 4 Case: 6 Cases Tested And Compared
Looking for the best Nexus 4 case and protective gear? Look no further; this article covers a variety of gear designed to protect your precious N4 from catastrophic harm. And trust me; you will need some kind of protection. If you take into account its unreinforced glass back, large glass screen and trademark slipperiness, the N4 is one greasy-palmed fumble away from disaster – protection should rank at the top of your priorities.
7 Amazing Kinds of HTPC & Media Center Remote Controls
Got a media center? Ever get tired of fumbling around with a full sized keyboard and mouse while trying to watch Hulu or Netflix? Not only can some controls dispense with the nasty tangle of cables, but they also transform the HTPC experience. The seven controls presented in this article provide an alternative means of interacting with your home theater PC, but are by no means the only solutions. They are, however, totally awesome and you need to read about them. Right now.
How Undervolting Decreases Heat & Increases Battery Life
Would you believe that many computers and smartphones can run cooler and consume less power? A trick exists, called undervolting, which can increase your CPU's efficiency with few drawbacks. If performed right, devices generally produce less heat while exhibiting improved battery performance. The process can require a great deal of patience and confidence as the potential for disaster exists.
Which US Carrier Offers the Best iPhone Prepaid Plan?
Do you want to buy or own an iPhone but can’t afford the monthly fees? There’s something that the major post-paid carriers don’t want you knowing. You can have an iPhone and not pay ridiculous amounts of money. Here’s the secret: You don’t have to renew with Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon. There are alternatives called MVNOs who lease spectrum wholesale from the big players and resell to the consumer at a much lower rate.
The Latest and Best Free Android Apps From XDA Developers: Get Great Apps Before Your Friends
If you're like me, scoring a great program feels like discovering Picasso or Caravaggio for the first time — but finding gems requires installing a lot of really bad software. XDA makes the discovery process much easier by highlighting praiseworthy apps. If you find an interesting program, pop it onto your phone and BOOM. You just got bragging rights as a true app epicurean. This article highlights ten of the latest and/or greatest apps originating from XDA.
Want to Rid Yourself of the Android Play Store? Kiss Google Goodbye and Try F-Droid
Did you know that Android allows the installation of app stores other than the Play Store? You might already use apps from the Amazon Appstore and GetJar—but you probably never heard that a completely free, and open source, library of apps exists: F-Droid. Standing out in striking comparison, it emphasizes security, transparency and open source products—an outstanding departure from the competitors.
The Three-Way Battle For Online Shopping Supremacy! Google Vs Yahoo Vs Bing
I pitted Google, Yahoo and Microsoft’s Bing shopping search engines against one another to determine which of the three provided the best savings on five frequently purchased tech items - an Asus Nexus tablet, a TechNet subscription, a Microsoft Surface Pro, an iPhone 5 and a Galaxy Nexus S3. Here are the results.
Apps And Smartphone Equipment To Take With You Into The Zombie Apocalypse
Technology failing to work remains the most ridiculous genre trope of the zombie apocalypse. We've seen many disgusted protagonists sneeringly discard ominously "dead" phones: That's because people in movies do not know much about technology. Smartphones will not suddenly become useless slabs of plastic and glass after the era of the undead arrives.
4 Tips for Saving Money on Prepaid Mobile Phone Plans
In the United States, T-Mobile made history by becoming the first cellular carrier to not force customers into buying multi-year contracts. After the policy shift, T-Mo users can purchase subsidized phones independent of a monthly fee. The other three major carriers, however, have not yet followed T-Mobile’s lead. Mobile Virtual Network Operators can save all cellular users money. However, hundreds of MVNO plans exist—how do you know what plan best suits your needs?
Got A PC-on-a-Stick? You Can Turn It Into A Roku-like Media Streaming Device For Free!
Getting your stick computer streaming media requires very little effort and money nowadays. Considering that it provides an excellent replacement for a more expensive device, getting a stick PC can actually save you a fair amount of cash, if you ever need a device for playing media. Why get a Roku 3 when for half the price you can get a stick PC?
Save Time & Money! The 4 Best Sites For Automatically Building a PC
WARNING! Building a PC can cause the following symptoms - despair, rage, violence against inanimate objects, poverty, feelings of regret and worthlessness, depression and suicidal thoughts. Fortunately, websites exist that take the pain out of custom building a computer. This article details how four such websites can save you a great deal of time, money and sanity building a PC.
Spring Cleaning 2013 Part Two: Kill Your E-Clutter With Four Simple Methods
Discarded desktop computers account for a large percentage of illegally disposed of e-waste. This situation occurred because as the mobile age displaced that of the PC. Rather than pitching your things away illegally, those looking to get rid of their stockpiled electronics this spring should consider four free options: recycling, donating, repurposing, or selling.
Want A Handbrake Killer? SUPER Converts All Videos For Free [Windows]
SUPER for Windows performs video conversion (encoding), file joining, and video recording on a huge number of file types. To date, no free (or paid) video software in its class matches the versatility and broad file-type compatibility of SUPER. The short end is that it will convert, merge and record, almost any video or audio file type around.
The Seven Deadly Android Permissions: How to Avoid the Sin of Slothful Preparedness
Everyone with an Android device should know that your private information isn’t treated as private. For example, making an app purchase may expose personal contact information, including one’s name, physical address and email address, to developers. This article explains how seven potentially deadly app permissions might hurt you and how best to avoid such calamitous installations.
Sick Of Your GPS App’s Data Connection Flaking Out? Try 3 Updated Offline Maps [Android]
Not long ago, Chris covered three of the best offline GPS apps available on Android. Since then, many other GPS apps released or received major updates. Do these newcomers compare favorably with those reviewed by Chris? To answer this question, I evaluate the apps based on four criteria - first, how effective is the app at helping users navigate offline? Second, what are its top features? Third, how data efficient is the app? Fourth, is the paid version worth purchasing?
Zombie Android Phone Devouring All Your Data? Shoot It In the Head With 11 Free Tips & Tricks
For anyone with a limited data cellular plan, data consumption can become incredibly expensive, very quickly. Overage fees generally cost hundreds of dollars a month - and your phone secretly uses data without your knowledge, without proper configuration. Matt provided a great starting point for paring down data consumption. This article expands on the ideas laid down by Matt.
Kick Your Crappy Android Apps To The Curb With 4 Free & Simple Apps
Has the performance and battery life on your mobile dropped off? A gang of dysfunctional and buggy apps probably cause such decline. Getting rid of the errant apps remains the single best performance enhancing tip. Unfortunately, most users lack the slightest idea of which miscreant apps to kill. This article details 4 apps that specialize in finding and murdering crappy apps.
4 Of The Fastest Tablet-Optimized Browsers You've Never Heard Of [Android]
Android tablet browsers, generally speaking, are not that great. Most of the big four browsers suffer from poorly sized buttons and sluggish performance. The tablet-optimized alternatives mentioned in this article, which you may not know about, provide improved performance and usability over the so-called "mainstream" browsers, Dolphin, Opera, Chrome and Firefox. In this article I analyze four dedicated tablet browsers.