You can have your phone or tablet make a brief noise, chime, or vibration whenever an app, call, or message notification comes through. Like customizing your ringtone with your favorite song, you can ...

David Nield is a technology journalist from Manchester in the U.K. who has been writing about gadgets and apps for more than 20 years. He has a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Durham ...

Staying aware of your surroundings matters. That includes hearing smoke alarms, appliance beeps or a knock at the door. Still, real life gets busy. You wear headphones. You get focused. Sounds slip by ...