Geek News

If you've lived with mobile devices for long enough, you've likely had that moment when you received a low-battery warning well before the end of the day. It's more than a little worrying, especially if you're far from home. But how do you wring the most out of your remaining battery life in those situations -- or better yet, avoid those problems in the first place? You don't always have to rely on your phone's low-power mode. We've compiled a slew of tricks that can extend the longevity of your smartphone or smartwatch, and they're not necessarily obvious -- in many cases, it's as much about discipline as it is flicking the right software switch. Start with hardware settings No matter which phone or watch you own, it's best to start with the basic settings for your display, GPS, sound and wireless connections. They're easy to change, and the improvements in battery life can sometimes be dramatic enough that you don't need to do much...

Lyft is continuing its bid to become the go-to choice for non-emergency medical trips . It's launching a new partnership with Hitch Health that will offer Lyft rides to health care appointments across the US. The basic concept is familiar, but there's a personalized twist: Hitch offers technology that can identify the patients most likely to need a ride. In a 6-month trial run, the partnership focused on low-income, uninsured and vulnerable patients that couldn't realistically consider driving, taking the bus or asking a friend. As with some of Lyft's other team-ups, patients don't need a smartphone or even a credit card. In Hitch's case, riders get a text message offering a pickup. The deal helps bolster Lyft's role in medical transportation. It also repeats a familiar competitive strategy for Lyft: matching Uber on key fronts as quickly as possible, and looking for opportunities to one-up its rival in the same space. It's not necessarily original,...

Project Fi's same-as-at-home international data is now decidedly more useful -- including before you've even left. The Google-run carrier has expanded its travel coverage from "over 135" countries to 170, including nations like Belize, Monaco, Nigeria and Tunisia. You'll still pay $10 per 1GB up to 6GB (with another 9GB free), with unlimited texting and calls at 20 cents per minute. The additions may not make or break your vacation plans, but they could reduce doubts about whether or not it's safe to document your vacation on Instagram. And if you're not sure... well, there's help. The Project Fi app now looks at your upcoming international flights in Gmail and automatically sends a notification beforehand to show you the cost of data where you're going. You can turn this off if you'd rather not be pestered, but it could be crucial if there's any lingering doubts about coverage. Source: Google via Engadget RSS Feed "http://ift.t...