Katie covered all things how-to at CNET, with a focus on Social Security and notable events. When she's not writing, she enjoys playing in golf scrambles, practicing yoga and spending time on the lake ...

The first app is called Face Down. And it works exactly how it sounds. You start a timer, then place your phone face down on ...

“Alexa, set a timer for 10 minutes,” I say in the kitchen as I’m putting a pot of water on a burner, followed by “Alexa, set a timer for 20 minutes” as I pop some lasagne in the oven for reheating.

In many homes, Alexa mostly plays songs, sets timers and gives the weather. That is nice, but it can do a lot more with very little effort from you. With a few small routines and simple voice lines, ...