iOS & iPhone Features
How To: Launch Apps, Tasks, & Websites Directly from Your iPhone's Notification Center
An app called Launcher was released for iOS 8 last September that let users open any installed app directly from a widget in the Notification Center pull-down. For some reason, Apple didn't take too kindly to this and banned Launcher from the iOS App Store just a few days after its release.
News: 2020 iPhone SE vs. iPhone XR — How Apple's Cheapest Smartphones Stack Up Against Each Other
Up until April 2020, the iPhone XR was, for many new users, the first entrance into the world of Apple because it was the cheapest iPhone model since the original iPhone SE. Now, the second-generation iPhone SE has shown up at the same initial starting price as its predecessor, giving budget-friendly buyers another choice.
How To: Save $20 a Year on Apple Music
Apple Music offers a cheaper subscription option to those of you who look for it — only $99 for a year. If you are already an Apple Music user, you can access the option right now. Otherwise, you have to sign up for a normal monthly plan first, then switch to this plan to get a better deal after.
How To: Reply to Texts on Your AirPods Without Siri Reading Out Your Messages
Your iPhone's "Announce Messages with Siri" feature is pure Apple. If you have a pair of connected AirPods (2nd generation or newer), Siri can read your messages to you as they come in, and you can say "Reply" to send one back. However, that natural flow is disrupted once Siri reads back your drafted text — but you can disable it to make the process smooth all the way through.
How To: Black Dot Character Crashing Messages? Try These Fixes on Your iPhone
There are some nasty iOS bugs out there, many determined to crash the Messages app. For example, in February 2018, we saw a Telugu character render the iPhone messaging app totally useless. While that bug has been fixed, the nightmare continues in a new bug, aptly dubbed the "Black Dot."
How To: Hide the Picture-in-Picture Window on Your iPhone to Listen to Audio Only or Take a Video Break
Previously limited to apps like Facebook and YouTube as an in-app feature only, picture-in-picture mode is now an OS-level feature in iOS 14. That means any app can quickly flip the switch to let you watch videos in an overlay window while you multitask in other apps. However, sometimes you only need to hear the audio and not see the video, and that's totally possible too.
How To: This Is the Quickest Way to Disable Face ID or Touch ID in a Pinch
Here's the situation: you need Face ID or Touch ID disabled, yesterday. You don't have time to dig around in your settings, slowly working through an authentication reset. If you find yourself in a place where you think your own face or fingerprint will be used against you, use this trick to instantly protect your iPhone.
How To: Stop Control Center from Opening Accidentally in Apps & Games on Your iPhone
You're in the middle of the fight for your life in your favorite iPhone game when all of a sudden, that critical move you tried to make activates Control Center inadvertently, throwing you completely off track. Instead of fuming, do something about it — block Control Center when you're in apps.
News: Yo! Flash Back to the '90s with Pasted's New Collage App
Here's another workday distraction for all you social media lovers out there: Pasted, launching out of beta today on iOS, is a simple collage and photo editing app mixing iconic '90s imagery with a love of the The Shins.
News: The Best Cyber Monday Deals on iOS Apps & Games for Your iPhone
Who likes to buy apps? The answer is no one, of course. Unfortunately, as in life, the best apps and games don't come free. That's why it makes sense to wait until those apps go on sale before handing over your hard-earned cash. And what better day to find discounts in the iOS App Store than Cyber Monday?
News: Preorder & Release Dates for the iPhone 11, 11 Pro & 11 Pro Max
They're finally here. Apple revealed the brand new iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max on Sept. 10, and despite the questionable names, these are the best iPhone models money can buy. If you're looking to get your hands on one of these devices as soon as possible, there are few important dates you need to know.
News: Apple Just Released iOS 12.1.2 for iPhones with Fix for eSIM Activation Issues
Without a second beta like most other beta versions, Apple released iOS 12.1.2 to all iPhone users on Monday, Dec. 17. The update comes just one week after the iOS 12.1.2 beta went live, so why did it have such a quick turnaround? The answer likely revolves around eSIM issues on newer iPhone models, as well as legal issues with Qualcomm.
How To: Play 'Comix Zone' on Your iPhone Now & Relive the Glory Days of Arcade-Style Fighting Games
Prepare yourself for a trip back to the days when a Sega Genesis was your gateway to premium gaming. The mid-nineties classic, Comix Zone, has been soft-launched in the Philippines, and while it's not officially available for gamers in the states, you can install it right now with a little hackery.
News: Sketchy Chinese App Store Removed from Evad3rs iOS 7 Jailbreak
The internet was ablaze this week after it was found out that evasi0n's newest jailbreak for iOS 7 secretly came bundled with a highly obfuscated Chinese app store. The application, called Taig, was filled with pirated software and was rumored to have permissions capable of tracking your information and sending it elsewhere. It was reported that the team at evad3rs financially benefited from this move, netting them a very high six-figure number close to a million dollars. The controversy incr...
How To: Create, Use, and Manage Tab Groups in Safari on Your iPhone
Are your Safari tabs a tangled mess? I know mine are. Whenever I try to find an open website on my iPhone, I face dozens, sometimes hundreds of tabs. Yes, there's Search, but it's not perfect if you don't remember the right keyword to narrow the results. That's where custom tab groups come in.
News: iOS 12 Is Now Open for Public Beta Testers, Here's How to Install It on Your iPhone Right Now
Hours after iOS 11.4.1 beta 4 was released on Monday, June 25, Apple's webpage for its public beta software programs was unavailable because of an "update." Sure enough, that meant the public beta for iOS 12 was being prepped to drop shortly thereafter, which is exactly what happened. In other words, you can now install iOS 12 on your iPhone without a developer account!
How To: This Hidden Twitter Feature Makes It So Much Easier to Share Tweets from Your iPhone
If you're someone who shares a lot of tweets outside of Twitter, you know the struggle. Twitter's share button, like YouTube's, is proprietary, which means you need to wade through Twitter's own sharing options to find your iPhone's regular Share sheet instead. However, there's a hidden trick that lets you open the stock iOS sharing options right away.
News: After Error 53 Disaster, Apple Is Making It Much Easier to Fix Touch ID
Replacing your iPhone fingerprint sensor has been one of Apple's most cruel tortures. It's a slow and painful process made worse last year when Error 53 messages started appearing on the phones of users who had tried to repair their sensors outside of Apple. The error rendered the phones essentially useless. Since then, Apple has provided fixes but is now finally making it much easier to replace your iPhone fingerprint sensor with the releasing of "Horizon Machines" to official repair locations.
News: The First iOS 11.4 Beta for Just Dropped for iPhone, Messages on iCloud Returns
Less than a week after iOS 11.3 was released to the public, iOS 11.4 beta dropped for developers on April 2, then became available for public beta testers the following day. If you're an iPhone user, there doesn't seem to be much to love about iOS 11.4 just yet, since its mostly geared toward education uses for iPads, but Messages on iCloud is back, as well as AirPlay 2.
How To: Share Your iPhone's Medical ID with First Responders When Placing an Emergency Call or Text
In the event of an emergency where you can't answer for yourself, trained professionals can view your Medical ID on your iPhone to learn about your medical situation, granted that you have created one. But that's not all your Medical ID can do. With a new feature, iOS can share your Medical ID data automatically with first responders when you place an emergency call.
How To: Book Dinner Tables Directly from Apple Maps on Your iPhone
Apple has taken great strides to ensure that iPhone users are having an Apple Maps experience on par or even better than Google Maps can provide. One of the factors powering this is extensions, which adds functionality to certain apps by giving them permission to interact. Among all the possibilities, one extension will let you reserve dinner tables right from inside Apple Maps.
How To: You'll Soon Be Able to Download All the Data Apple Has on You — Here's How to Get It & How It Works
Personal data is a hot topic right now, and for good reason. Never before has the public been so on edge about how companies use their information. Services like Facebook and Google now allow you to download all of the data each has on file. Soon, you'll be able to see exactly the same for Apple as well.
How To: Why Some Non-Apple Devices Can't Open Photos & Videos Shared from Your iPhone (& How to Fix It)
You take a photo or video, send it to a friend, and they say, "Hey, I can't open this." More often than not, your friend won't be using an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac. Instead, they're likely trying to open the file with a non-Apple device. But this problem can be avoided if you know what setting to change.
News: Apple's iOS 13.3 Released for iPhone, Includes Off Switch for Memoji Stickers, New Mouse Options & More
Apple seeded the official version of iOS 13 to compatible iPhones on Sept. 19. Since then, we've seen two major updates — iOS 13.1, which, by our count, introduced 22 new features, and iOS 13.2, which also added 22 new features. Today, Dec. 10, Apple introduced the third major update: iOS 13.3.
How To: The Fastest Way to Find an App on Your Cluttered iPhone
Confession time: I hardly ever leave the first page of my iPhone's home screen. No, my iPhone isn't super organized and, no, I don't limit the number of apps I download as well (trust me, this phone is a mess). The truth is that you don't need to rely on your iPhone's home screen pages to find and open an app. In most cases, there's simply a much faster way.
How To: Report Speed Traps, Accidents & Hazards in Apple Maps During Navigation to Help Out Other Drivers on the Road
Driving is anything but problem-free. Speed traps, accidents, and other hazards can appear at any time, requiring motorists to be attentive, quick, and prepared for anything. If you see something dangerous on your route that you want to warn others about, there's an easy way to do so in Apple Maps.
News: Apple Just Released iOS 12.3 Public Beta 2 for iPhone, Features Small Updates to Wallet & Date/Time
Apple just released the second public beta for iOS 12.3 today, Tuesday, April 9, one day after the release of the iOS 12.3 developer beta 2. This update introduces new Japanese "Date & Time" updates as well as changes to Wallet transactions. Overall, iOS 12.3 includes Apple TV Channels, premium monthly subscriptions with content available directly in the TV app across the Apple ecosystem.
News: Apple Releases iOS 13.2 for iPhone, Includes Deep Fusion, New Emojis, Announce Messages with Siri & More
The wait is finally over. Apple just released iOS 13.2 for iPhone, the latest update to this year's iOS 13 release. The update contains a slew of exciting new features, such as Deep Fusion for 2019 iPhones, a suite of new emojis, the long-awaited Announce Messages with Siri, among many, many others.
How To: When It Comes to iPhone 12 Series Cases, Smartish Is All You'll Need
I drop my smartphone a lot. Like an absurd amount of times. Practically multiple times a day. So it's surprising that my iPhone 12 Pro has lasted nine months without a cracked screen yet. Part of that has to do with the late-2020 model's durability, and the other part is thanks to my protective case.
How To: Share Audio & Video Clips in Overcast to Show Off Your Favorite Podcasts
In a world of seemingly endless streaming services, podcasts continue to offer free, unlimited entertainment for all. When you find a podcast that's just too good to keep to yourself, sharing it with family and friends is inevitable, but how you share may determine whether or not they listen to it or not. Links alone aren't enough. Audio and video clips are how you get them sucked in.
News: Uber Tracked iPhone Users, Even After Deleting the App
In a disturbing turn of events, Uber has been tracking oblivious iPhone users even after they removed the application from their phone. Two years ago, the situation escalated to such an extent that CEO Travis Kalanick earned a slap on the wrist from Apple mogul Tim Cook.
How To: Do This to Make Siri Use Deezer for Music & Podcasts Instead of Apple's Apps
With its emphasis on well-rounded audible entertainment, Deezer gives all music and podcast fans the best of both worlds. As great as the app is, it's inconvenient to constantly tell Siri to play your music and podcasts through Deezer so that it doesn't default to Apple Music or Apple Podcasts instead. But as of iOS 14.5, you can set Deezer as your iPhone's "default" music player for Siri.
How To: Fix Cell Service & Touch ID After Installing the iOS 8.0.1 iPhone Update
The official release of iOS 8 was highly anticipated, but the truth is it may have been a little premature on Apple's part. Since its debut only a week ago, plenty of bugs and issues have been reported across the various compatible iPhone models.
How To: Enable Dark Mode on Overcast for iPhone
We all listen to podcasts differently — on the way to work, at the gym, when drifting off to sleep. If you're in the latter group and rely on Overcast to help you with your nightly routine, you're probably sick of its blinding light theme keeping you up. That's why the app features a dark mode, to keep things easy on the eyes while picking out or playing an episode.
How To: Batch Editing Photos and Videos on Your iPhone Just Got Way Easier
Your iPhone's Photos app just got a major new feature that lets you edit multiple photos and videos simultaneously. That means you no longer have to try and remember all the adjustments made in one image or video to try and get the same look in another photo or video.
How To: Make Your iPhone's Camera Remember Your Last Used Exposure Compensation Value for Later
Your ability to control exposure in the Camera app is much better in iOS 14. Instead of setting the exposure for a single shot, you can also lock an exposure compensation value for an entire session while you take photos and videos. A session ends as soon as you exit the app, but you can also remind your iPhone to use your last used ECV the next time you open Camera.
How To: See Nearby Recommendations from Brands via Curated City Guides in iOS 14's Apple Maps
When you're in a new city or even your own neighborhood, you might not know where the best places to visit are. The number of parks, restaurants, shopping centers, and other attractions could be overwhelming, so how do you narrow down your choices? The new iOS 14 update has introduced curated city "Guides" in Apple Maps, created by trusted brands to help you find excellent places to explore.
News: Apple Releases First iOS 14.5 Developer Beta for iPhone, Adds Support for Xbox Series X & PS5 DualSense Controllers
Apple released iOS 14.5 developer beta 1, and the update sports a list of interesting features and changes. Some of those include support for the Xbox Series X and PS5 DualSense controllers, the ability to unlock your iPhone with Apple Watch, AirPlay 2 support for Fitness+, 5G support for dual-SIM setups, and a refreshed Software Update page in Settings.
How To: Apple's AirTags Are Ready to Preorder on Amazon & Other Online Stores — Get Some Before They Sell Out!
If you have no intention of getting personalized engravings on your AirTags, you don't need to shop on the Apple Store unless you have an Apple Card you want to earn Daily Cash with. Best Buy. Target. Adorama. B&H Photo. All of those places will let you preorder AirTags now but so does Amazon, America's second-biggest retailer, a good choice whether you have Amazon Prime or not.
How To: These Issues Could Prevent Your App Store Subscriptions from Renewing on Time
Ah, subscriptions. Whether you love or hate them, they are now a fundamental part of our increasingly digital lives. If you have some essential subs on your iPad, iPhone, or Mac, like Apple Arcade, Apple Music, Apple News+, Bumble, Pandora, Tinder, or YouTube Premium, there are three key issues you need to know about that could unexpectedly stop your membership from renewing.