How to Remove Scratches From Your Phone Screen

Whether it's from the car keys in your pocket or an accidental drop, our phones are bound to be victims of scratches and scuffs.

But buying a brand-new replacement phone or paying an expensive visit to a professional repair shop aren't your only two solutions. Luckily, there are some quick DIY fixes that may help you remove shallow scratches from your beloved gadget.

Here are eight remedies known to rescue phones from minor scratches. Before cleaning, make sure you power down your phone, remove the battery (if you can) and seal the ports of your phone with tape to prevent liquid damage.

1. Toothpaste

Look no further than your bathroom to cure small marks on your phone's screen. The key is to use actual toothpaste, not a gel-based toothpaste.

Here's how this method works:

• Dab a small amount of toothpaste onto the end of a cotton swab or clean, soft cloth.
• Gently rub the cotton swab or cloth in circular motions on the screen until you see the scratch go away.
• After this, wipe your screen with a slightly dampened cloth to remove any excess toothpaste.

2. Car scratch removal creams

Car scratch removal creams such as Turtle Wax, 3M Scratch and Swirl Remover can minimize and get rid of scratches. Simply apply the cream to a clean, soft cloth and wipe your screen in a gentle, swirling motion.

3. Sandpaper or drill grinders

Grinding stubborn phone scratches with sandpaper or a small drill grinder is a drastic solution, but has the ability to remove unwanted scuffs from your phone. It’s best to use this method for smoothing out scratches on the back of your phone.

When using fine sandpaper, it's important to use the least abrasive kind and to press gently onto your phone. As you grind the phone scratches, check often to make sure there is no damage on the screen.

Note: If you aren't careful, this method can end up causing more scratches and damage.

4. Baking soda

Baking soda can serve as a handy phone scratch remover. Here's how this remedy works:

• Mix two parts baking soda and one part water in a bowl.
• Stir until it forms a thick paste.
• Apply the paste to a clean, soft cloth and gently rub in a circular motion on the phone's scratches.
• After this, wipe your screen with a fresh, slightly dampened cloth to remove any excess.

5. Baby powder

Adding water to baby powder creates a paste that can take out the scratches on your phone. In the steps above, simply substitute baby powder for baking soda.

6. Vegetable oil

For small, hidden scratches, vegetable oil is said to work well as a temporary solution. One drop of vegetable oil on top of scratches can be a quick cosmetic fix.

7. Egg and potassium aluminum sulfate

An online tutorial from Yahoo says that mixing egg whites and potassium aluminum sulfate can get rid of scratches.

For this, you'll need a microfiber cloth, an egg, aluminum foil and alum (potassium aluminum sulfate, which can be purchased at your local drugstore).

• Mix one egg white and one teaspoon of alum in a saucepan. Heat to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Soak the microfiber cloth in the egg and alum mixture.
• Put the cloth on aluminum foil, and then place it into a 300-degree oven until the cloth is completely dry.
• Take the cloth out of the oven and rinse it in cold water for 20 to 30 seconds.
• Repeat the step above three times, and then let the cloth air-dry for 48 hours.
• Now, use the cloth to remove scratches.

8. Brasso, Silvo or other polishes

A word of caution before you follow through with this method: Using polishes such as Brasso and Silvo can sometimes remove the screen coating and result in larger scratches. Try this at your own risk.

• Pour polish into a bowl. It's a good idea to put a towel underneath the bowl so it does not spill.
• Dip a soft cloth into the polish.
• Rub the cloth up and down the scratch and in circular motions.
• After this, wipe your screen with a fresh cloth to remove any excess.

Behind The Wheel With Google's Android Auto

We'll see Google cars on the road a lot sooner than expected — they just won't be driving themselves.

Google unveiled Android Auto on Wednesday, a new version of the company's operating system built specifically for car dashboard displays.

The new software links to the driver's Android device, then uses the dashboard monitor as an interface for drivers and passengers to operate familiar apps and features such as Maps, Spotify, and voice calls. The driver can control the screen using touch; there's also a voice recognition button on the car's steering wheel.

"In many ways, our cars keep us connected to the physical world around us," Patrick Brady, Director of Android Engineering, said at Wednesday's Google I/O keynote, "but they remain disconnected from our other devices in our digital lives."

The push into auto-focused software makes a lot of sense for Google. Americans spend more than 25 minutes each way on average driving to and from work. That's a lot of time to be away from your always-on mobile device.

Brady claims that 25% of accidents in the United States are caused by gadget use behind the wheel. Android Auto requires the user to plug their device into the car, and then go hands-free — a safer solution than looking down at your phone to pull up directions or make a call.

The connection isn't wireless, which is somewhat surprising considering the prevalence of Bluetooth technology. But the physical connection does two things. It forces drivers to put their phones down, and it also creates a more reliable connection between phone and automobile.

Once the phone is plugged in, a home screen pops up on the dashboard. The screen features five main tabs, such as Google Maps and Google Play Music.

With Maps, users can tap the button on the screen or steering wheel, say their destination out loud, and the software will automatically determine the best route and begin the navigation process. This automation limits the need to fumble with buttons on the screen, a Google spokesperson told Mashable.

With music, Google's default player is Google Play Music, but the software supports other popular music apps like Spotify and Pandora, too. Drivers can tap the voice recognition button on the steering wheel and say a command — such as "Play Katy Perry on Spotify" — to pull up their music on the go.

The main home screen also offers a button intended to reveal mechanical information about the car, such as when you last changed your oil. The spokesperson said Google is working with manufacturers to determine what information can be shared, but the technology could offer drivers a safer driving experience by instantly identifying issues like a burnt out taillight or a leaking tire.

Safety appears to be a major focus for Google with Android Auto. Voice search, for example, returns audible answers through the car speakers instead of appearing on the dashboard — another way to keep people from looking at a screen while driving.

An auto version of Android offers major benefits for Google.

There's a wealth of information available in your car, it simply needs to be tapped.

There's a wealth of information available in your car, it simply needs to be tapped. The data includes where you drive, what you listen to, what you search for while driving. It's a glimpse into you as an individual, but also car owners in general.

Bringing Android to the car also generates more user loyalty. AsWired points out, you own a car a lot longer than you do a phone. If your car runs Android, there's less of a chance you'll switch to iOS on your next contract.

Android is far from alone in the connected car space. Apple also offers an in-car iOS experience known as CarPlay, and traditional manufacturers like BMW have their own systems as well. Android Auto simply benefits drivers who use an Android mobile device.

The Android Auto announcement wasn't a complete shock. Google hinted at the news in January when it started the Open Automotive Alliance, a collaboration between tech and automative companies to bring safer technology to cars. Manufacturers such as Ford, Chrysler and Volkswagen have since joined the organization. (Apple and BMW have not.)

There's no date yet for when Android Auto will hit the road — although Google said at the I/O keynote to expect the technology in actual cars by the end of the year. A SDK for developer apps was also announced; that is not yet available either.

Amazon Fire Phone vs. iPhone 5S vs. Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One M8

Amazon unveiled its highly-anticipated Fire Phone Wednesday.

The phone comes equipped with four front-facing 3D cameras that help enable its "dynamic perspective" head-tracking features.

The Fire Phone has some flashy features, but it's also a lot different from other flagship handsets. Check out the chart, below, to see exactly how it stacks up to the iPhone 5S, Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One m8.

	Amazon Fire Phone	iPhone 5S	Samsung Galaxy S5	HTC One m8
Screen Size	4.7 inches	4 inches	5.1 inches	5 inches
Resolution	1,280 x 720	1,136 x 640	1,920 x 1,080	1080 x 1920
Dimensions	5.5" x 2.6" x 0.35"	4.87" x 2.31" x 0.30"	5.59" x 2.85" x 0.31"	5.76" x 2.78" x 0.37"
Weight	5.64 ounces	3.95 ounces	5.11 ounces	5.64 ounces
Mobile Operating System	Fire OS 3.5.0 (Android)	iOS 7.1	Android KitKat (4.4)	Android KitKat (4.4)
Processor	2.2GHz quad-core processor	A7 chip with 64-bit architecture with M7 motion coprocessor	2.5GHz Quad core application processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core 2.3GHz processor
Battery Life	Up to 22 hours talk time	Up to 10 hours talk time (3G)	Up to 29 hours talk time	Up to 20 hours talk time
Storage Space	32, 64GB	16, 32, 64GB	16, 32GB + microSD slot (up to 128GB)	16, 32GB + microSD slot (up to 128GB)
Camera	13MP rear, 2.1MP front	8MP rear, 1.2MP front	16MP rear, 2MP front	4MP rear, 5MP front
Other sensors	3Dynamic Perspective sensor system with invisible infrared illumination, gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer, barometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor	Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Fingerprint identity sensor	Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass, Barometer, Hall, RGB ambient light, Gesture, Fingerprint, Heart Rate Sensor	Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass, Barometer
Price	$199 (32GB), $299.99 (64GB), $27/month for 24 months (AT&T only), $649(32Gb, unlocked)	$199 (16GB), $299(32GB), $399(64GB)	$199.99 (AT&T, US Cellular, Verizon) $27/month for 24 months (Sprint), $27.50/month for 24 months (T-Mobile), $649 (MetroPCS)	$199.99 (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon)
Carrier	AT&T	AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile	AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, US Cellular, Metro PCS	AT&T, Verizon and T-mobile

Facebook Messenger Gets Instant Video Messaging

Facebook has updated its Messenger app for iOS and Android devices, giving users the ability to record and send 15-second video messages.

Version 6.0 of the app also adds a feature called "Big Likes" — when you really like something, press and hold to send an even bigger "thumbs up" sign.

The new version of Messenger comes after Facebook's odd, accidental rollout of messaging app Slingshot earlier this week. That app, which was quickly pulled from Apple's App Store, also had the ability to send short video messages to friends.

The new version of Messenger is available for free at Apple's App Store and Google Play.