Zoom vs Google Meet- Which is better (Free Plan)

With Covid-19 virus gripping the World in massive scale, one of the things which people have adopted globally is work from home. Most of the companies are not suggesting employees to work from home. When it comes to work from home, video calls have increased in the last few weeks. Google Meet, which was previously called Google Hangouts Meet is one of the extremely popular app. But it was not free for all, while anyone could join. But now Google has announced that Google Meet will be free for all. Zoom has been extremely popular this lockdown season and they have already crossed 300 million users worldwide. So how does Zoom compare with Google Meet, here is the quick Zoom vs Google Meet comparison.

Zoom vs Google Meet: Comparison

One of the most important things about online video calls is the number of people who can join, especially when it comes to business meets. Here both Zoom and Google Meet allows upto 100 people in a call, which is pretty good considering that it satisfies most of the users.

Next moving to the installation process, Google Meet is more simple to set up as you do not have to install anything and it can done from a browser. Even participants need not download any additional software when accessing meeting via link. It is compatible with most modern browsers. You can set up the meeting from meet.google.com. There is also app for Google Meet on Android and iOS and is available from respective app stores.

When it comes to Zoom, you cannot use Zoom without an app. It is not supported on web browsers. There is an app for Windows and Mac OS X along with Android and iOS. You need to install the app to get started. Any person who wish to join the meeting can do via web browser and there are plugins available.

Both Google Meet and Zoom allows free users to host meetings. In case of Google Meet, the maximum time limit for a call with free account is 60 minutes while for Zoom it is 40 minutes. Further, till September 2020, Google Meet allows unlimited time for all users, which is an added advantage during lockdown.

When you make a call via Zoom, the interface can display a maximum of 49 users in one screen, which allows you to see them. But in case of Google Meet, it is limited to 16 users at a time. Both the services have tiled interface.

Security:

Security is one of the most important things to look for since many are using this for official work. Here the Google Meet uses 2 factor authentication and also follows security standards for Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) and Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP)

On the other hand we have been hearing a lot of security issues for Zoom. In fact Govt of India warned users not to use Zoom for official work purposes due to security issues. Zoom is using AES 256-bit encryption and should be available for all accounts in a month’s time. One of the issues with Zoom has been random people zoom bombing the video conversations. This has been a concern for many users. So if security is a primary concern, then we suggest using Google Meet.

Here is a quick Comparison of Zoom vs Google Meet.

Feature	Zoom	Google Meet
No of participants	100	100
Meeting Time Limit	40 min	60 Min
Screen Sharing	Yes	Yes
Screen Recording	Yes	Yes (only for paid)
App Support	Android, iOS, Windows, Mac OS	Android, iOS, Web
Web Access	No	Yes
Max Users in one Screen	49	16

This comparison should be able to provide you with an idea on which is better for you.

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You Can Now Turn Video Chats Into Podcasts Using Anchor

Anchor has launched a new video-to-audio conversion feature which lets you turn your video chats into audio podcasts. This means that you can hang out with friends on Zoom or Google Meet (now free for everyone) and record a podcast at the same time.

How to Turn Your Video Chats Into Audio Podcasts

Anchor, an all-in-one podcasting platform owned by Spotify, announced the new feature on Medium. And it claims the feature works with almost all of your favorite video chat apps. Essentially, if you can record your video chat, Anchor can convert it into audio.

All you need to do is record your video chat and upload the file to Anchor. Anchor will automatically convert the video file to audio, where it will show up in your library. You can then edit it in any way you see fit before publishing it as a podcast.

Anchor supports MP4 and MOV files on Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, FaceTime, Instagram Live, and Twitch. If you need help recording a video chat, just search the support pages of your favorite app. However, it’s generally easy to record and export video chats.

This is perfect for groups of friends looking to start a podcast without having to put in any real effort. However, it will also work for established podcasters, who can now use video chat to converse with their co-host(s) or even interview guests.

Anchor Makes It Easy to Record Podcasts Remotely

The ability to turn your video chats into audio podcasts could be a real boon for friends who think other people will want to listen to their banter. They may be wrong about that, but they now have the perfect opportunity to find out by using Anchor.

This isn’t the first way Anchor has tried to make it easier to record podcasts with friends either. In March 2020, Anchor launched Record With Friends 2.0, which lets you record a podcast remotely with up to four friends just by sending an invite link.

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The 17 Best Free Browser Games to Kill Time

If you have some time to kill, why not give these fun free browser games a try. They’re all casual games that you can play for free in your web browser whenever you have a few minutes to spare.

1. Woggle

For a different kind of word game, Woggle teases your brain to find the word you are given. When you see the word at the top, click connected letters on the board to create it. You can connect letters up, down, or diagonally to make the word.

Woggle starts off simple enough with words of just three letters. However, as you do well, you will progress to longer words which creates more of a challenge. You have limited time to find a certain number of words on a given list. When you find the word, click the last letter twice to submit it and move onto the next.

For more like this, take a look at these other free online word games to play when you’re bored.

2. Shell Challenge

If you’re looking for a test of your coordination and speed, try your hand at Shell Challenge. The rules are simple. You’ll see a shell at the top of the screen. When the cards on the board reveal their items, click the identical shell as fast as you can.

What makes this online game a challenge is that the cards only reveal for a few seconds. After they cover and reveal again, the items change place. So, you must scan and click quickly. Once you reach the level goal you can move on.

3. Crash It

Collect jewels by making matches in Crash It. Unlike other matching games with gems, this one places the gems on the board in random spots for you to drop to the bottom. In order to drop them, match groups of three or more blocks of the same color.

You will see the number of gems you need of each color on the left. Since you have limited time, you may need to match blocks that drop an hourglass to the bottom to give you more time on the clock. Enjoy the soft music as you plan your moves in Crash It.

4. Number Mahjong

Mahjong games come in all shapes and sizes. If you love the genre, you should take a peek at Number Mahjong. Click matching numbers to create pairs and remove them from the board. And don’t worry, there’s no math involved here. Just match a 10 with a 10, a 17 with a 17, and so on.

Once you clear the board, you’ll move onto the next level and puzzle layout. Thus, you will never get bored with the same board. You can use hints and shuffles if you get stuck. Plus, the game offers relaxing music while you play.

5. Zoo Animals

For a different kind of matching game, head to the zoo. Zoo Animals is a stacking game. Each stackable piece has part of an animal on it that you must match to its counterpart. The match will remove the animal from the board.

You can move one piece at a time or an entire stack. Just keep in mind that every so often, a new piece will fall from the top. Remove as many animals as you can to score and move onto the next level.

6. Mystery Paradise

In Mystery Paradise, your objective is to remove the colored background tiles by arranging the balls. Match three or more of the same colored balls to remove them and the background tile(s) from the board.

If you make a match, you continue with the balls already on the board. But if you make a move that does not make a match, more balls will appear. This is important to remember because in order to make matches, balls must have a direct path to each other. Clear the tiles and move onto the next challenging level in Mystery Paradise.

7. Cube Crash

Cube Crash is a match-three game with a fun twist. Yes, you need to click on three or more matching colors to remove the tiles from the board. But the trick is that in order to meet the level goal you have to plan ahead of time. If not, you may be left with less than three tiles of the same color to match—and fail.

As you move your mouse over the blocks of tiles, you will see how many points that click will get you towards your goal. So, listen to the jazzy music and strategize your matches as you work to complete each level.

8. Snail Bob

If you like puzzlers with gadgets, levers, and buttons, then Snail Bob is one to check out. Your snail keeps on walking — slowly of course — but you can stop him with a click. Your objective is to get Bob to the exit by using the gizmos around him.

Rotate the levers to move objects, push the buttons to trigger ball drops, and figure out how to send Bob the snail to his safe spot in the pipe.

9. Cut the Rope: Magic

If you enjoy casual games, then you’ve probably already played Cut the Rope. Cut the Rope: Magic is another installment in this series of puzzling games with Om Nom the hungry monster. This enchanting challenge lets you change characters throughout the level to complete the goal of getting Om Nom his candy.

As with the other Cut the Rope games, you slice through ropes to get the monster his candy. Try to get three stars for a perfect score on each level. Check out Cut the Rope: Magic for another cute follow-up to the original.

10. Neon 3

For a classic matching game with a twist of lime, take a look at Neon 3. Swap neon tiles of cocktails and goodies to match three or more. If you match four or more tiles, you can create special ones that blow away columns, rows, or blocks of tiles.

You have limited time to reach the level goal to move forward. So, keep your eye on the prize and your mind on the neon you see in Neon 3.

11. Tom and Jerry Mouse Maze

Based on the classic cartoon characters of Tom and Jerry, this cool maze game has you running for the cheese. In Tom and Jerry Mouse Maze, you must move Jerry around the room using your own mouse to get the cheese. But time is ticking because Tom is on the prowl.

In addition to watching out for that pesky cat, you must beware of mouse traps, sticky goo, and other dangers. Collect your cheese and head to the mousehole to move onto another fun level.

12. Fox Adventurer

Fox Adventurer is a puzzling game where you switch between day and night to find your way to the finish. As your fox continues to move, you must hit the button to make the switch. This will change the blocks he is walking on and allow you to move down towards the door.

With simple controls, make the fox jump for gems and the key on your way to the exit. Each level in Fox Adventurer offers a unique and puzzling challenge.

For other titles like this, take a look at these puzzle games you can play for free in your browser.

13. Monkey Bubbles

If you like bubble shooters, then head to the jungle and play some Monkey Bubbles. Aim and click to launch the bubbles above you to make matches. You have a limited number of moves to clear the board of fruit, so plan wisely.

If you aim carefully, you can bounce the bubbles off the walls to land them where you need them. You can also see which fruit bubble is next in your wagon and click to swap it with your current one. All monkeying around aside, this is a fun bubble shooter.

14. Letter Mix

For another out-of-the-ordinary word game, take a look at Letter Mix. The cute animal oversees your game as you create words from letters on the board. But this is a tricky one. Letters continue to fly in at a rapid pace and cover other letters.

Just click one letter at a time to move it to the bottom and create your word. When you’re ready, hit Submit and then create the next one. The longer your word, the better your score. But the key is to get the number of words needed to meet the goal.

15. Baseball for Clowns

If you are one of those people who cannot stand clowns, then this next game is for you. Baseball for Clowns dares you to take out those smiley-yet-creepy characters by throwing baseballs at them. This game is all about the planning.

You have a limited number of baseballs to take out all of the clowns you see. So try to use ricochet action to clobber as many clowns with one ball as you can. If you are a fan of Stupid Zombies, then you will love Baseball for Clowns.

16. Rescue the Divers

Dive into a unique type of match-three game with Rescue the Divers. Most games in this genre have tiles falling from the top while you work for matches toward the bottom. But this game has the divers on the bottom whom you want to float to the top by matching blocks above them.

Help all of the divers resurface to move onto the next level. If you run out of moves without completing a level, you can start it again.

17. Lines and Blocks

Lines and Blocks is an interesting take on Tetris. As blocks fall, you rotate and move them into place them on the board. All of the blocks contain lines in various patterns.

Your goal is to place the blocks so that three or more match up to remove a line. If a block is left with no lines in it, it will be removed from the board. If not, it will remain until all of its lines are matched.

Continue playing until you reach the level goal to move forward. If the blocks reach the top, the game is over.

More Free Browser Games to Pass the Time

Matching games, puzzlers, word challenges, and brainteasers are all available to play in your browser when you have some time to spare. And we hope this list of casual games gives you at least a few that you can enjoy playing.

For additional options, check out these HTML5 browser games that don’t require Adobe Flash and the hardest online games to play in your browser.

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The 6 Best Sites to Play Board Games Online for Free

If you’re addicted to playing board games, you won’t always have enough people around to play with. Thankfully, there are plenty of sites which let you play board games online for free.

No matter what kind of board game you want to play, these free online board game sites will help you find an opponent to compete with.

1. Board Game Arena

With 175 games and counting, Board Game Arena is a popular destination for playing board games online for free.

The games in Board Game Arena cover a wide variety of genres. You’ll find the simple classics like Yahtzee, backgammon, and chess, as well as more complicated modern games like Race for the Galaxy, Carcassonne, Puerto Rico, Lost Cities, Seasons, and more. There are links to rules and videos for every game, so you can prepare yourself before you play for the first time.

Board Game Arena’s interface is easy to use and presents a lot of information in a compact space. This includes elements that are relevant to the game, turn timers, as well as ELO ratings. You also get a running report of what you and your opponent have done (which is nice, because it’s often hard to see what your opponent is doing when you play board games online).

You can chat with your opponents as well, though if you want audio or video you’ll need to sign up for a Premium membership. Becoming a Premium member also lets you play Premium games without limitations, and also eliminates wait times for games. However, it’s entirely optional.

2. BrettSpielWelt

BrettSpielWelt doesn’t have the variety of games available on BoardGameArena, but it still provides a lot of options. Some of the more popular games on BSW include Carcassonne (with a few expansions), 7 Wonders, Puerto Rico, and Stone Age.

BSW operates off of a mobile platform, whether you’re playing on a computer or not. This means you can choose to use BSW on your computer, phone, or tablet. No matter which platform you use, you’ll have access to the site’s text or voice chat to communicate with other players.

One thing to note: although BSW is available in a number of languages, it’s primarily a German site. Since some text hasn’t been translated, you may have to make a few educated guesses as to where some links will take you. That said, the best online language translators should help.

3. Yucata

Yucata places a stronger emphasis on turn-based play compared to other board game websites. Despite this, it still works well for both turn-based and real-time board games if you’re patient. It doesn’t have a timer when you’re playing real-time, so games can turn into very long affairs when you’re playing against someone who’s playing a lot of games at once or just decides to leave.

Even so, Yucata offers a good selection of games, including Carcassonne, Dragonheart, Jaipur, Roll Through the Ages, Stone Age, and The Castles of Burgundy. And you can play all of them for free, without even registering. When you select a game, you can read the rules and watch a tutorial video to help you get started.

While Yucata’s game-finding interface isn’t great, the play interface is nice-looking and responsive. Just keep in mind that this platform is built for playing several simultaneous games at once. Having multiple games on your roster keeps things entertaining. When one game is on hold, you can easily jump into another!

4. Boîte à Jeux

Primarily a French site, Boîte à Jeux has been translated into English and German as well. It doesn’t have quite as many big-name games as other options, but there are a few games that might appeal to you, like Agricola, Alhambra, Tzolk’in, Dixit, and Nations: The Dice Game.

Like Yucata, Boîte à Jeux is a good place to play the best browser strategy games. However, it doesn’t encourage real-time gaming. You don’t have a time limit on your turn, which means games can last for days.

When you want to start playing, you can opt to create a game, or join another player’s game. The play interface on Boîte à Jeux is nice—as you play, you can look at the game rules and the other players’ stats.

Boîte à Jeux is free to use, but you can also sign up for a premium account that unlocks a few extra features, like opening games and reserving spots for friends.

5. YourTurnMyTurn

YourTurnMyTurn is another turn-based site that lets you set turn time limits of one day and longer. There are a lot of classic games you can play, including chess, checkers, Connect Four, Battleship, Go, Reversi, and more. There are fewer Euro-style and modern games, but Carcassonne and Lost Cities are both available.

YTMT doesn’t have as big of a community as other board game sites, but if you’re looking for extended turn-based games, and like the selection available there, it’s worth checking out. After all, it’s free, so you don’t have anything to lose.

6. Tabletopia

Tabletopia features over 900 great board games. Its library ranges from modern games like Santorini and Sub Terra, to classics like Parcheesi and backgammon. Games with the “Try Now” label let you quickly jump into games without even creating an account or logging in. Otherwise, you’ll have to sign up to get started.

What makes Tabletopia unique is its three game modes: Solo, Hotseat, and Online. While the Solo mode lets you play any one-player games alone, Hotseat mode allows you to play multiplayer games on the same desktop. Online mode is ideal if you want to play online multiplayer board games with random opponents.

The free Bronze membership lets you play a huge variety of board games. Although Tabletopia offers paid Silver and Gold subscriptions as well, you don’t really need the upgrade. A paid membership is only necessary if you want to play more than two games at once, and if you want access to the small list of Premium games.

You Can Always Print Your Own Board Games

Out of all of these board game sites, BoardGameArena and Tabletopia have the widest selection of games and the most polished interfaces. The other sites are a bit more difficult to navigate, but they’re worth it if the site has a game you love.

Do you prefer to play board games in-person rather than online? If so, why not try these awesome free printable board games.

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The Most Annoying Netflix Problems: Here’s How to Solve Them

Netflix is the best TV streaming service around, but it isn’t faultless. You may even be avoiding subscribing to Netflix because of these little annoyances. However, there are fixes available.

Complaints about Netflix include content that keep stopping during playback or that suddenly disappear, bad recommendations for what to watch next, trailers autoplaying by default, and more.

So, in this article, we explain how to solve some of the most annoying Netflix problems.

1. How Do I Delete “Continue Watching” on Netflix?

If you watch anything for a short time and don’t reach the credits, it’ll show up in your “Continue Watching” list. To get rid of that, go to the Viewing Activity page (Account > Expand profile > Viewing activity).

This page shows everything you have watched, listed from newest to oldest. Click the No symbol (“hide from viewing history”) next to any title to remove it.

For TV shows, clicking the No symbol next to an episode will remove that single episode. A prompt will appear that says Hide series?, which you can click if you want to remove every episode of that series from your Recently Watched list.

2. How Do I Get Better Netflix Suggestions?

It’s hard to take proper control over your recommendations, but there are ways you can influence it. The recommendations are determined by your ratings, the ratings of other members with similar tastes to you, and what you’ve watched.

Netflix used to have a more refined 5-star rating system, but all you can now do is indicate if you did or didn’t like something. However, you CAN do this on any Netflix title, regardless of whether you’ve watched it or not. Which is helpful.

To do this, hover over the title and click the Thumbs-Up or Thumbs-Down icon. This will let Netflix know your opinion and it will be fed into your recommendation algorithm.

To see a full list of titles you have rated, go to the Viewing Activity Rating page (Account > Expand profile > Viewing activity > Rating). Here you can adjust or remove any ratings you’ve already given to movies or TV shows.

3. How Do I Reset My Netflix Account Back to Default?

If you want to get rid of everything you have watched so far and reset your Netflix back to its default settings, you need to delete your profile. Go to the Manage Profiles page (Profile icon > Manage Profiles), click the profile you want to reset, and click Delete Profile to confirm it.

This will get rid of your Netflix profile’s entire history, including your My List saves, your Recently Watched list, and your Ratings. You can then create a new profile and start from scratch.

4. How Do I Watch Netflix in 1080p HD or UHD?

Netflix offers different streaming quality depending on what price plan you have:

• Basic plan: Standard definition (SD)
• Standard plan: High definition (HD)
• Premium plan: High definition (HD) and ultra-high definition (UHD) when available

On devices like TVs, Netflix will stream at the highest quality that your price plan supports. However, you may need to go to the Playback Settings page (Account > Expand profile > Playback settings) and set Data usage per screen to High if you don’t want the playback quality to drop.

To have the highest quality Netflix stream possible on a computer, grab the Netflix app from the Microsoft Store. If you want to stream in UHD, you can only do so if your computer is powerful enough to support it. You may also need to download HEVC Video Extensions.

5. Why Do Movies and Shows Disappear From Netflix?

Netflix regularly adds and removes various movies and TV shows. That’s because Netflix acquires rights for these titles for a limited amount of time. Once the time is up, Netflix has to decide to renew the rights or to give them up. In some cases, Netflix gives up those rights, so the movie or show is removed from its lineup.

There are several ways to find out which movies and TV shows are leaving Netflix in the next 30 days. If you have added a title to your My List section, the Netflix app in the US will tell you that the title is expiring soon. For global users, you can check the Details section of any video.

An alternative way to find out what’s expiring is through a third-party site, like the What’s Expiring On Netflix blog. This details the titles that will be removed from the service in the next month.

6. How Do I Share Netflix Recommendations?

It’s easy to send someone straight to what you want them to watch on Netflix. You can copy the URL from the address bar and give it to them. Even if they aren’t in the same Netflix region as you, if that content is available to them then the link will work. Even if the content isn’t available, there are ways to watch everything on Netflix no matter where you live.

Alternatively, in the Netflix app you can tap the Share icon when looking at a title. This will then open a list of apps that you can share that link on, like WhatsApp or Twitter.

7. Why Does Netflix Keep Stopping or Pausing?

The most likely reason that Netflix is stopping or pausing is because of your internet connection. The best way to check the speed of your connection is to use FAST.com, which is Netflix’s own speed test. It’s also available as an app for iOS and Android.

FAST will tell you the highest speeds you can stream Netflix videos at. This may differ from the advertised speed of your internet connection. If FAST shows lower speeds than you were expecting, you’ll need to speak to your ISP; it might be throttling your access to Netflix.

If the speeds seem good, Netflix might be having problems. Check the Is Netflix Down? page to see if there are any official reports or browse social media to see if others are also having trouble.

8. How Do I Reduce Mobile Data Usage on Netflix?

If you’re using Netflix on a smartphone or tablet, you can adjust the settings so that it only works on Wi-Fi, or to force it to use less data by reducing quality. In the Netflix app, go to More > App Settings > Cellular Data Usage.

Here you can choose Wi-Fi Only to never use cellular data or Save Data to reduce the quality of the stream and the amount of data used.

This only affects your Netflix mobile app and not anywhere else you stream Netflix.

9. How Do I Skip Intro Titles While Watching Netflix?

With some shows, Netflix offers a Skip Intro button as soon as the title sequence starts playing. Which is perfect for when you’re binge-watching television on Netflix. But this isn’t a universal feature for all TV series.

For shows where it isn’t available, you can still make it easier to skip. Count the length once, then in the future use the smart fast-forward buttons on phones or keyboard shortcuts on computers.

On mobile apps, you can skip ahead by 30 seconds. On Windows or Mac, you’ll need to use keyboard shortcuts. Press Shift + Right arrow to skip forward 10 seconds. Keeping Shift held down, you can press Right arrow repeatedly until you hit the point you want. If you skip too much, press Shift + Left arrow to rewind by 10 seconds.

10. Has My Netflix Account Been Hacked?

If you suspect someone is using your Netflix without your knowledge, it might be that you’ve left your account logged in somewhere or your details have been compromised.

Go to the Recent device steaming activity page (Account > Recent device streaming activity) to see where your Netflix account has been used and on what devices.

If there’s something that you don’t recognize, go to the Manage Devices page (Account > Sign out of all devices) and click Sign out to log out everywhere.

Then, sign into Netflix again and go to the Change Password page (Account > Change password) to set a new, secure password.

If you still see suspicious activity on your account, you should contact Netflix to resolve the issue.

11. How Do I Turn Off Autoplay for Netflix Trailers?

One of the most annoying Netflix features are the trailers that start playing when you hover over a piece of content. In fact, this feature can cause some people’s computers to freeze. Happily, the feature can be disabled.

It must be disabled per profile, but once done it applies the change across all of your devices. Go to Manage Profiles, click the profile you want to edit, and untick Autoplay previews whilst browsing on all devices. Finally, click Save.

12. How Do I Stop the Next Episode From Autoplaying?

When you finish watching an episode on Netflix, the streaming service is very keen to automatically play the next episode. It only gives you a short window to cancel, otherwise you will be ripped out of the credits and onto the next episode.

Thankfully, you can disable this per profile. To do this, go to Manage Profiles, click the profile you want to edit, untick Autoplay next episode in a series on all devices, and click Save.

Are There Any Other Netflix Problems You Need to Fix?

As fantastic as the streaming service is, you might experience annoying Netflix problems from time to time. Hopefully our list has helped solve your particular issue. If not, feel free to tell us about your problem in the comments below, and we’ll do what we can to help.

As an aside, Netflix is always trying out new features. One such example is variable playback speeds, so here’s how to change the playback speed on Netflix.

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How to Send and Receive Text Messages on Android Tablets

Want to text from your Android tablet? It’s easy to send and receive SMS text messages on a tablet using a variety of services on Android. You can even text using your existing cell phone number.

Let’s take a look at the best ways to text with your tablet so you don’t need your phone around all the time.

1. Pulse SMS

Pulse SMS is the best text messaging app for Android. It’s ad-free and includes tons of handy features like per-conversation customization, an efficient search function, web link previews, and much more.

While the app is free to use on your phone, you can pay a small fee for access on all your other devices. After a seven-day free trial, the pricing options are as follows:

• $0.99 per month
• $5.99 per year
• $10.99 for lifetime access

This might seem expensive initially, but it’s more affordable than other premium options for texting on your tablet. Plus, it lets you use Pulse on all your devices, including your computer. If you text from your tablet regularly, this is the best option.

Download: Pulse SMS for Android phone and tablet (Free, in-app purchases available)

How to Text From Your Tablet With Pulse SMS

First, install Pulse SMS on your phone. Open the app and let it walk you through setting it as your default SMS app.

Once that’s done, open the left slide-out menu and tap Text from any device. You’ll then need to create a Pulse account. During this, you’ll pick a plan from the options mentioned above (or use the free trial).

After you set up the account, you’ll see your account info at the top-left of the menu and can tap My account to view details.

Now, install the same Pulse SMS app on your tablet. Launch it, open the left menu, and again tap Text from any device. Sign in with your account, then you’ll have access to all your messages on your tablet.

The Pulse experience is the same across devices, so you don’t have to master a new interface on your tablet. Even better, the service also offers apps for texting on Windows, macOS, iOS, the web, and much more. Check out the Pulse SMS website for download links.

Pulse sends all messages through your Android phone. Thus, your phone must be powered on and have a signal to text from your tablet or other devices.

2. mysms

If you don’t like Pulse SMS, mysms provides an alternative for texting from your Android tablet. Unlike Pulse, it doesn’t require you to use it as your default texting app. However, as we’ll see, it works better if you do.

In addition to texting with your Android tablet, you can go to app.mysms.com to sign in and send texts on your computer. The service also offers apps for Windows, macOS, and iOS.

At the time of writing, the app was last updated in April 2019. It still works, but you may be wary about paying for an app that hasn’t seen updates for a while.

Download: mysms for Android phone | Android tablet (Free, subscription available)
Download: mysms for iOS | Windows 10 | macOS (Free, subscription available)

How to Use mysms to Text From a Tablet

First, install the mysms app on your Android phone. You’ll need to sign in with your Google account to get started.

After you walk through the introduction, mysms will tell you that it works best when you set it as your default SMS app. This isn’t required, but you’ll have a smoother experience if you do so. You can tap the Wanna use mysms on your phone too? text at the bottom of the page to set it as default in the future.

mysms’s support page about this explains that the app doesn’t sync read and deleted messages properly without setting it as default. In our testing, without setting it as the default app, sending messages happened instantly, but receiving messages took a long time. A text we received on the phone didn’t appear in mysms on the tablet for hours.

Once the app is ready on your Android phone, you’ll need to install the mysms tablet app on the tablet you want to text from. Sign in with the same Google account, then you’ll have access to all your Android messages.

mysms Settings and Premium

On your tablet, you can slide out the left menu bar to access some options. Select Notifications to tweak settings for incoming messages, or Appearance to swap themes.

Meanwhile, on your phone, the left sidebar contains Send & Receive settings related to messaging, as well as Account if you want to double-check those options.

You can also choose to Go Premium using the phone app. Premium costs $9.99 per year and includes several additional features, such as:

• Access to all of your texting history
• Back up and restore your texts to the cloud
• SMS scheduling
• Removal of the “via mysms.com” signature that sometimes appears on sent messages

The first feature is the biggest drawback of mysms. While it doesn’t places limits on how much you text, it only lets you view text message from the past month. If you often reference older messages, this is a hassle. There’s no need to pay for premium to back up your texts on Android, though, as you can do that yourself.

Overall, if you don’t mind paying, we recommend Pulse SMS over mysms. It works more reliably, is more affordable in the long run, and receives regular updates. For free, though, mysms isn’t bad.

3. Google Voice

Both of the above solutions let you send text messages from a tablet using your cell phone number. If you’re interested in texting from a tablet using a new phone number, Google Voice is a great solution.

Google Voice is a Google VoIP service that provides you with a number so you can call and text from your phone and computer. You can also forward calls from your Google Voice number to an existing phone number.

It’s free with any Google account, so give it a try if you don’t mind using a separate number. Keep in mind, though, that it’s only available in the US. Also, if you are a Google Fi customer, you can’t use Google Voice.

Download: Google Voice for Android (Free)

How to Get Started With Google Voice

To start, you’ll need to sign up for Google Voice and get a number. You can do this either through the Google Voice app on your phone/tablet or on the Google Voice website.

As you start, Google will show a link to its help page on how to port your mobile number to Google Voice. Follow these steps if you’d like to move an existing number to Google Voice. We’ll assume you want to get a new one, though.

To begin, enter a city or area code to find an available number, then click Select next to a number you’re happy with. You’ll next need to verify and link your existing phone number. Enter this and confirm with the short code it sends you.

How to Use Google Voice to Text From Your Tablet

Afterward, you’re all set to start using Google Voice. You can use the web interface to make calls, send texts, and listen to your voicemail messages. Click Settings in the top-right to add new linked numbers, change notification options, record a voicemail greeting, add credit to your account for international calls, and more.

If you haven’t already, install the Google Voice app on your tablet to access your number from there. Sign in with your Google account, and you can text as long as you have a Wi-Fi or mobile data connection.

Of course, you’ll need to let your contacts know that you’re texting them from a new number. If you use Google Contacts, they should all appear in the Voice app automatically once you grant the app permission to use your contacts.

Calls and texts to almost all numbers in the US and Canada are free with Google Voice. Check Google Voice’s rate pages to see how much calls to other regions will cost. Note that you can’t text short code numbers using Google Voice.

For more, check out some cool Google Voice tricks you should know.

Texting From an Android Tablet Is Easy

These three options represent the best ways to send SMS messages from your tablet. There are some other options, but they’re inferior to the above.

MightyText is similar to mysms, but limits your usage per month and is much more expensive to upgrade, at $79.99 per year or $9.99 per month. Pinger’s Text Free is similar to Google Voice, but shows ads and doesn’t offer as much. And you can’t use Google Messages on your tablet unless you log into the web interface.

In summary:

• Use Pulse if you don’t mind paying a small fee and changing your default SMS app on your phone.
• Go with mysms if you don’t want to pay or change your default SMS app, and can deal with some limitations.
• Use Google Voice if you want to text from a new number.

And to break free from SMS, don’t forget about messaging apps that work across devices, like Telegram and Facebook Messenger.

Read the full article: How to Send and Receive Text Messages on Android Tablets

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via MakeUseOf

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