The enchanted-looking tree above harbors a wondrous secret.
 
Using an ancient technique called “chip grafting,” artist and Syracuse University professor Sam Van Aken has carefully nurtured trees that can bear over 40 different types of stone fruits, including peaches, nectarines, apricots and almonds.
The process is one of patience: Over several years, Van Aken splices branches with buds of various varieties into a base branch called the “working tree.”
By springtime, the “Tree of 40 Fruit” sprouts pink and purple blossoms. In the summer, the tree begins to bear fruit of all kinds.
“Part of the idea behind the Tree of 40 Fruit was to plant them in locations that people would stumble upon them,” said Van Aken speaking to National Geographic in the video below. “And once they happened upon one of these trees, they would start to question ‘Why are the leaves shaped differently?’ ‘Why are they different colors?’”
Source: National Geographic
Fortunately I stumbled upon the world’s best, and eco-friendly, mosquito repellent:

Coffee grounds.

That’s right, old dried up coffee grounds work as an effective repellent for mosquitoes, according to the EPA. Mosquitoes and other insects hate the way used coffee grounds smell. So what do you do to keep them away?
  1. Collect your old coffee grounds and put them on a plate covered with foil. Place in a dry, dark spot until completely dry.
  2. Once dry, place the plate of grounds on a flat surface, like a picnic table, out in the open. Make sure your kids and pets can’t get to it.
  3. Now burn the grounds with a match until they start to smoke.
  4. The smoke will repel mosquitoes!
Pretty simple, effective tip, isn’t it? You can also use grounds to keep bugs away. Simply sprinkle coffee grounds around the outside of your house to keep bugs from coming inside.
There are smartphone apps that can help you keep track of healthy habits, like how much exercise you do and the number of steps you take in a day.
But how do you keep track of those not-so-healthy habits, like how much wine you guzzle? Well, now there's an app for that, too.
Developed by doctors in Singapore, the Alcohol Tracker is a smartphone app that lets users enter how many drinks they have each day. If a user drinks more than the maximum amount of alcohol recommended by certain health organizations, then the app will send a notification, warning that the recommended limit has been reached.
http://i.livescience.com/images/i/000/077/110/iFF/women-drinking-phone-150706.jpg?1436226973
The app is aimed at helping drinkers better manage their alcohol intake, the researchers said. They developed it as a way to counteract the use of other apps like "Let's Get Wasted!" that are set up like interactive drinking games, and promote drinking. The developers noted that researchers have found that apps that promise to track users' blood alcohol content are highly unreliable. [7 Things I Learned From A Year Without Alcohol]
The Alcohol Tracker app tracks a person's drinking habits on both a daily and weekly basis. That means users will be notified not only if they have too much to drink at Thursday's happy hour, but also if, come Tuesday, they've already consumed the recommended maximum amount of alcohol for the entire week.
Users simply tell the app how many beers, glasses of wine or shots they’ve consumed, and the app does the rest. Since these different beverages contain varying amounts of alcohol, the app converts every drink into a certain number of alcohol "units," based on guidelines established by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the United Kingdom and the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments.
Original article on Live Science.
Take it to the next level.

1. The Coolest cooler

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The world collectively freaked out when the Coolest cooler hit Kickstarter last year. Backers pledged over $13 million to the party-in-a-box. Many supporters STILL haven’t received their ultimate beach cooler, but it’ll be worth the wait.
The Coolest includes a rechargeable blender, waterproof Bluetooth speaker, USB charger, LED light, cutting board, wide tired, bottle opener, and more. But it ain’t cheap.
Current pricing: $485

3. The HidrateMe smart water bottle

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Life is busy and sometimes staying hydrated is *not* priority number one. HidrateMe is a water bottle with sensors that detect your water intake. If you haven’t had a sip in a while, the bottle will glow. HidrateMe is smart, but its battery only needs replacing once a year. No need to recharge it.
HidrateMe syncs with your phone via Bluetooth, and shows you how much more water you still need to drink (or if you’ve had enough), depending on your height, weight, age, and activity level. The app also uses your location to gauge the temperature, humidity, and elevation and adjusts water needs based on that information.
Current pricing: $45

3. The cord-protecting Znaps

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If you’ve ever accidentally yanked on your phone cable and watched it crash to the floor, this is what you need. Znaps is a magnetic charging adapter for iPhone and Android that works like your MacBook’s MagSafe adapters. You can plug an adapter into your Znaps in any direction.
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All charging cables suck – the connectors fray, and the cords break for no reason. This accessory will protect the cable charger head and prevent water damage at the charging port.
Current pricing: $19

4. The self-watering plant tray Tableau

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Tableau is *the* gardening solution for anyone cursed with a brown thumb. Every month, once a month, all you have to do is fill its reservoir with water. The tray does the rest.
It provides plants with a “wet-dry cycle.” Once the roots have used all of the water in the base, Tableau makes sure the soil stays dry for a few days before replenishing the water supply. This cycle makes for healthier plants. Basically, it WILL NOT FAIL.
Current pricing: $166 (150 euros)

5. The powerful-but-small Knot charger

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Not only does the pocket-sized Bold Knot provide three hours of extra battery – but it also doubles as a cable that charges two times faster than normal cords. Stick it on a keychain and *never* lose power.
Current pricing: $49

6. The drawer-organizing EZSTAX

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T-shirt stackers, LISTEN UP. These interlocking plastic organizers let you pull from the middle of a stack without ruining the rest of your shirts. Ezstax stack shirts, documents, and accessories neatly in drawers and on shelves, so you can actually live and pick the second-to-last-shirt without making a damn mess.
Current pricing: $20 for 20

7. The minimalist Light Phone

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Welcome to notification-free bliss. If you’ve ever wanted to go on a digital-free walk, you now can with the credit card-sized Light Phone. It uses call forwarding to work with your current phone number. The Light Phone has a SIM card slot, speaker, mic, and a subtle LED display so you can make and take calls – and that’s it.
Current pricing: $100

8. The Firestarter survival bracelet

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It starts FIRE. This bracelet could literally save your life. Its made of super strong, military-grade paracord, and has flint and steel woven into its end, so you can spark a flame any time, anywhere. You’ll definitely want this on your next camping trip.
23 Impossibly Clever New Products Everyone Needs To Own
Current pricing: $15

9. The game-changing Next Keyboard app

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This app became the most funded app on Kickstarter, and that’s because it’s pure genius. It’s a keyboard that you can use with any app (like the emoji keyboard). One of Next’s killer features is “Quick Cursor Swipe” which turns the spacebar into a smooth cursor so you can quickly edit text.
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Other features-we-can’t-believe-we’ve-lived-without are emoji suggestions (when you type “poop,” a poop emoji appears in the auto-correct bar), swipe to type, and tap-and-hold to switch between numbers and letters.
Current pricing: TBD
Expected ship date: Soon, beta out now for iPhone

10. The Lumos smart helmet

AD-Impossibly-Clever-New-Products-Everyone-Needs-To-Own-12kickstarter.com
Weaving between cars and trucks while city riding is very, very risky. With the Lumos helmet, you’ll feel good that you made yourself safer and more visible.
The rechargeable helmet has an accelerometer that knows when you’re coming to a stop, and will shine a super bright brake light once you do. It also comes with a handlebar remote that enables turn signal lights on the rear so vehicles know exactly where you’re headed.
Current pricing: $85

11. The world’s smallest Bluetooth earbud, Dot

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Bluetooth earbuds is an invention that SHOULD EXIST ALREADY but doesn’t. There are a few in the works, including the Earin and Dash, but in terms of weight, battery time, and price, the Dot promises to go above and beyond the rest.
It’s wireless, which prevents one of the most vexing frustrations of the modern era:tangled earbud cables. Another one of the Dot’s unique features is that it has a built-in mic, so you can take calls. It lasts for 9 hours of talk time and 6 hours for music playback. The buds can connect up to eight different Apple, Android, and Windows devices.
Current pricing: $149

12. BauBax, the best travel jacket ever

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Gird your loins. This jacket has everything you’ve ever dreamed of for urban survival: earbud holders, phone pocket, a pen/stylus zipper pull, passport pocket, built-in gloves, microfiber cloth for cleaning glasses, iPad pocket, drink pocket, eye mask, and NECK PILLOW. Does that not sound amazing?
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It comes in four different styles: sweatshirt, windbreaker, bomber, and blazer. There is no situation where the BauBax is inappropriate.

13. The very compact Mifold booster seat

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Heavy, bulky carseats are so last year. The Mifold can easily fit in a backpack, making it the ideal travel companion for carpooling and car rentals. Instead of lifting a child up, the Mifold holds the seatbelt down in such a way that the belt stays off of the child’s face and neck and off of their stomach area.
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It’s so small that you could easily fit three Mifolds side-by-side, which is impossible for many boosters.

14. This CS1 smart iPhone case

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Channel your inner Wes Anderson by turning an iPhone 6 into a classic film camera. Simply pop the device into the case, and start shooting Super 8-esque photos and videos with a wide angle, fisheye or telephoto lens.
Like an old-school video camera, the case has an ergonomic handle for producing stable shots and a simple red record button.

15. The next-level HydroHammock

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Now *this* is innovation. With the Hydro Hammock, you can set up a hot tub or cool bath in any location that’s fit for a hammock. A built-in hose draws from a water source (like a lake or stream) or recirculates water within the Hammock.
Current pricing: $480 to $630, $1.9K for heater

16. The Batteriser battery extender

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It’s kind of amazing how many gadgets still rely on batteries (your remote, mouse and keyboard to name a few). If you’re constantly going through double AAs and triple AAAs, consider getting a bunch of rechargeable batteries or making them last eight times as long with these Batteriser sleeves.
It slips over your battery and won’t affect how the battery fits in the compartment. The sleeve uses special circuitry to access a battery’s untapped energy to make it last longer.
Current pricing: $20 for 8

17. The air-purifying smart pot Airy

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The air you breathe is dirty. Pollutants and toxins from carpets, cleaners, and more fill the air, contributing to ailments like allergies and headaches. Airy is a smart pot that allows roots to breath so that the plants can convert pollutants into nutrients. The secret is in the ventilation. Apparently, it’s how NASA cleans the air in the space stations.
Bonus extra: because the pot can hold 2.4 liters of water, you only need to water the plant every four to six weeks.
Current pricing: $77 (69 euros)

18. The educational Jewelbots bracelet

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Men still outnumber women in STEM (science, tech, engineering, and math) fields. This bracelet aims to reverse that trend by sparking girls’ love for science and technology early on.
The Jewelbot pairs to phones via Bluetooth, and an app allows girls to program their bracelet and modify its behavior. When they get a text from a parent, they can have the bracelet flash a certain color and when they get a new like on Instagram, they can have it flash another. The bracelet is a great way to get someone’s feet wet with coding concepts.
Current pricing: $59

19. The very useful MyKee multitool

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Don’t let its size deceive you. The MyKee is a box opener, pill splitter, cuticle pusher, carrot peeler, bottle opener opener, staple remover, and hex wrench, among other random uses. It’s so simple, so brilliant.
Current pricing: $20

20. The space-saving Floating Record Vertical Turntable

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Forget the amps and monitors and cables … this turntable has full -range speakers and an internal amp built-in, with a headphone port and the option to use your own audio setup. It’s a conversation starter that’s sure to peak the curiosity of all who enter your listening space.
Current pricing: $449

21. The levitating Flyte lightbulb

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Because why not! Flyte hovers in the air via magnetic levitation and is powered by induction. The low-energy LED light has a wireless power receiver that transfers energy between the base to the bulb. To turn it off, all you need to do is touch it.
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It’s 1 part science experiment, 2 parts curiosity-inducing art project. With the right third-party accessories, you also can put your phone on the base and charge it.
Current pricing: $299
There are plenty of easy choices you can make that will both save money and be better for the world.
Small changes in your day-to-day life can make a huge difference by reducing waste, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to contributing to energy efficiency. Even if we look solely at saving money and energy in the home, between cooling, heating, lighting, appliances, water heating, electronics, windows, and roofing, there are countless green tips worth trying.

Here are 40 ways to save money while you save the environment.

1. Recycle

More than three-fourths of Americans recycle paper, plastic, or glass from home, making it one of the more common ways Americans look out for the environment.
Source: Thinkstock
Source: Thinkstock

2. Compost

Backyard composting is a great way to reduce the amount of garbage you produce and make an excellent (and free!) fertilizer for your garden. Some cities offer composting facilities as well.

3. Buy used items

Buying used products is not only cheaper, it helps cut back on waste. Take advantage of local thrift stores.

4. Repair stuff

Many of today’s electronics and appliances are not made to last more than a few years, but if you can, perform small repairs to lengthen the life of these products.

5. Buy well-made products

Sometimes buying more expensive, high-quality products is a worthy investment. Plus, it will mean less waste in landfills if you buy a product once rather than every year.

6. Get stuff for free

Most communities have a FreeSharing group of some sort to help people recycle unwanted items. The Freecycle Network has more than 7.1 million members worldwide. Neighborhood junk days are also a good opportunity to rescue used items. Sharing goods with neighbors, such as power tools, snow blowers, and appliances, reduces waste and saves money, too.

7. Rent instead of buy

You might be surprised at all the items that can be rented, from tools and camping gear to caskets.

8. Borrow from libraries

Instead of buying books and media, you can utilize your local library for free and save paper and other materials in the process.

9. Bring your own bag

Los Angeles County is one of many communities with an ordinance requiring that shoppers bring their own bags, otherwise stores will charge $0.10 per bag. The LA ordinance has resulted in a 90% reduction in single use bag usage.

10. Bring a reusable water bottle

One of the most wasteful forms of packaging is water and soda bottles. Drink free water instead.

11. Buy local and organic

Depending on where you live, buying local organic foods can be expensive, but it keeps money in the local economy. Eating plenty of organic, wholesome produce will also keep you healthy and thus save on health care costs.
Source: Thinkstock
Source: Thinkstock

12. Eat less meat

As meat prices continue to climb, keep in mind that approximately 15% of greenhouse gas emissions come from farming livestock, particularly cows, according to a 2013 report from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. The meat industry also accounts for a huge portion of the country’s water usage.

13. Stop eating out

Eating at restaurants can make a significant dent in your budget. If you commit to preparing nearly every meal at home, you’ll also pay more attention to the ingredients.

14. Make your own cleaning supplies

Low-cost items like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice make for effective and eco-friendly homemade cleansers.

15. Use rags and cloth napkins

Instead of going through paper products like crazy, use washable cloth napkins, which are easily made at home from old clothing or fabric, and use worn-out rags for cleaning.

16. Sign up for paperless billing

Paperless billing is one of the easiest ways to reduce waste. You can save trees with one click.

17. Stop junk mail

No one likes junk mail, but everyone seems to like complaining about it. You can opt out of unsolicited junk mail by visiting DMAonline.org.

18. Use both sides of computer paper

Make that expensive printer paper go further by using the flipside when possible.

19. Recycle electronics

Keep cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible (even if it means delaying your free upgrade). Then donate or recycle. According to the EPA, recycling 1 million laptops saves energy equivalent to the electricity used by more than 3,500 U.S. homes in one year.

20. Unplug appliances and chargers

Leaving chargers and appliances plugged in when you are not using them still uses electricity. Get into the habit of unplugging them, or get a smart power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts “vampire” energy use.

21. Set your thermostat to a reasonable temperature

The same goes for your water heater. This is one of the simplest ways to cut monthly costs.
Source: iStock
Source: iStock

22. Replace weather stripping

Keeping your windows and doors insulated saves on utility bills and energy usage.

23. Turn a fan on

Try going without A/C in the summer. A well-made fan might be more effective than you think.

24. Use efficient lightbulbs

Energy Star-certified compact fluorescent bulbs save energy and money on your electric bill. Also, try keeping the lights low in the evening. It will be good for your circadian rhythms.

25. Clean refrigerator coils

Cleaning the coils behind your refrigerator periodically will make it run more efficiently.

26. Solar panels

Solar panels are one of the many things you can rent, so give them a try and see how much energy and money can be saved.

27. Put a brick in your toilet tank

Use a brick wrapped in a waterproof plastic to make any toilet into a low-flow toilet.

28. Get a low-flow shower head

Other water-saving bath fixtures are available to help you use less water. Take shorter showers as well.

29. Use an efficient dishwasher

Modern dishwashers tend to be more efficient than hand washing, and according to the EPA, running only full loads will save the earth 100 pounds of carbon dioxide and save you $40 per year.

30. Wash clothes in cold water

About 90% of the energy used for washing clothes is used to heat the water. Again, running full loads only will save energy.

31. Hang clothes to dry

Install a clothesline in your basement for year-round clothes drying.
Source: iStock
Source: iStock

32. Skip fabric softener

Clothes still get clean when you forego the fabric softener and the chemicals that go into it, so try a wool dryer ball instead.

33. Plant drought-tolerant native plants

Especially in dry climates, it’s a good idea to give up the green lawn in lieu of native plants.

34. Plant trees

Strategic planting of trees for shade can reduce air conditioning costs by 15% to 50%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. You can usually get free trees from utility companies or the Arbor Day Foundation.

35. Grow your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs

A garden means free and nutritious food in exchange for some healthy legwork outside.

36. Collect rain water

Rain water can be used for the garden, laundry, toilet flushing, and more.

37. Drive less

Can you walk, bike, bus, or carpool to work? If not, maybe you can take alternative modes of transportation at least a couple of times per week for certain errands.

38. Drive an efficient car

If you live in a region where a car is a necessity, choose one that gets good mileage, or even a hybrid or electric vehicle.

39. Take care of your car

You can save money, gas, and the environment by keeping your tires at the correct pressure, driving below the speed limit, turning off the car instead of idling, ensuring you aren’t burning oil, and getting regular tune-ups.

40. Educate yourself

There are many, many more ways to help save the planet. Make sure you are getting the most up-to-date information as we learn more about humanity’s influence on the natural world. Read up on the latest ways to minimize your impact, and be creative. Check out the EPA’s website for more information.
Here are my top 10 hidden cool Android tricks.
These features are built to save you money, power-up your GPS tracking, and even help you get a lost phone back if you need it.

1. Add hard-to-type words to your dictionary

androiddictionary
Hard-to-type words can be the bane of any on-screen keyboard user's existence. Especially if they aren't in your phone's dictionary. The process of adding it into your phone can be difficult, with many menus to navigate.
Android actually makes it easier than you think. Simply type a hard-to-type word into your text box, and hold your finger over the word.
It will be highlighted and underlined, but if you continue holding your finger over the word the underline will eventually go away. You can also manually enter a word into your dictionary by tapping the "add to dictionary" button that will appear in the text box.
This actually means that the word has been added to your dictionary. No muss, no fuss.

2. Save battery by turning off power-draining apps

App list
If your battery is dying too quickly, it might be because of background apps that you forget are running. Beefing up your battery life can be easier than you think.
Navigate to Settings>>Apps>>then swipe to the "running" tab. You'll see the apps that are using the most processing and battery power. If you don't use a high-power app very often, simply tap the app and then tap the "quit" button. Getting rid of energy-sucking apps should give you a small boost to your battery life.

3. Set quick responses for missed calls

Have you ever gotten a call from someone just before you head into a movie? It'd be rude to get your phone out to respond, but you don't want them to feel like you're giving them the cold shoulder.
You can text your responses for free with this cool app.
Writing a quick response can solve that very problem. Navigate to Settings>>Call Settings>>Quick Response.

4. Get your lost phone back

Owner info page
Most phones are password-protected which, ironically, cuts your chances of getting a lost phone back. If someone finds your phone, they'll have no way to actually contact you.
Luckily, you can throw some basic contact information up on your home screen. Start by navigating to Settings>>Security & Screen Lock>>Owner Info, then simply type the information you'd want someone who found your phone to know.
Find your lost phone with this handy app.
The information will always be displayed on your phone's lock screen.
An email address, home phone number, or family member's cellphone should be enough to help you get in contact with someone who finds your phone.

5. Get warnings when you're over your data limit

Android data usage alerts
Your phone's data usage can be tough to track. If your 4G network is quick enough, you could potentially be downloading files at the same speed as your home Internet. Luckily, Android comes with a packed-in data usage notification system.
Is your data plan worth it? Let me teach you how to avoid common data plan mistakes that could cost you big.
First, navigate to Settings>>Data Usage. You'll see a graph that displays your data usage, along with a yellow and red bar. The yellow bar designates when your phone will warn you about your data usage. The red is a hard cap on your data to avoid overage fees.
The red line should be your smartphone's monthly data limit. If you don't know your data limit, you should contact your cell carrier as soon as possible.

6. Set up speed dial

If you have any contacts that you call often, you can actually set shortcuts directly to them through your homescreen. Tap and hold an empty space on your homescreen, then tap the "Shortcuts" button. Next, tap "Contacts" and choose the person you'd like to sit on your home screen.
Their contact image should appear on your screen, and it'll only take a single tap to give him or her a call.

7. Take easy screenshots

Taking a screenshot with the iPhone has been pretty similar since the device launched. The variable design of Android makes it a little tougher to know where your instant screenshot buttons are located.
Here's how to do it:
Press the button that lowers your phone's volume and the sleep button at the same time. Hold for a second, and release. Your screen should flash and your screenshot will be placed into the "Screenshots" section of your photo gallery.

8. Search with your voice

Android home screen
Have you ever noticed the microphone next to the Google widget? Tapping the microphone lets you search for anything on your phone using Google's powerful voice analysis software.
Some phones actually support voice search without having to press any buttons at all. If your phone is nearby, you can test it by saying "OK Google," and then a request. Google Now has a surprising level of functionality. Try asking Google Now, "Do I need a jacket today?"
You might be surprised by Google Now's answer.

9. Use your phone as a portable hard drive

Most Android phones accept MicroSD cards. These card readers are increasingly cheap. You can actually use your phone as a portable hard drive by a USB cable from your phone into a computer.
Your computer will read your Android phone as an external drive. All you'll have to do is tap the "Connect USB Storage" button that will appear on your Android's screen. Treat it like any other USB drive you'd plug into your PC.
Load a file you want to bring somewhere from your PC, and you'll be able to access it from either your phone or someone else's computer given that you have the proper cords.

10. Turn off battery-draining services

Power saving android
Scrolling to the left-most side of your home screen will give you "Quick Options." These options vary from ringtone to power-savers like GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile data, and airplane mode.
If you're not going to be using Wi-Fi or GPS in the near future, this menu makes turning it easy to turn off these power-draining services.
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