iPhone

Touch ID has seen some major improvements since the release of the iPhone 6s. It’s more accurate and works much more often than it used to. But now, I find Touch ID unlocks my iPhone before I have a chance to check the notification that has popped up. Or, if I’m driving and I just want to change the song from the Lock screen, sometimes Touch ID works too quickly and I end up unlocking my iPhone and having to take the extra step of opening the Music app. Well, here’s our trick to get around that.

Apple has a hidden page on its website featuring awesome artwork and the artist’s process creating their art using Apple devices, apps, and accessories. The Start Something New campaign aims to inspire creatives to use their Apple devices to let their imaginations run wild and create. The campaign features 11 artists and shows that technology is no longer a barrier to creating amazing art. The artists featured used only their iPhone, iPad, Mac, and accessories. One artist even utilized his Apple Watch while another used an Olloclip with her iPhone.

Virtual reality is starting to go from a developers-only situation to a common consumer situation. CES in Las Vegas is full of such products, proving that VR is for everyone with the many different companies here showing off their latest and greatest. The first step to getting consumers into the virtual reality market is giving them something familiar and easy to use–Speck has done just that with its new Pocket VR viewer ($69.95, available Spring 2016).

I've had a SCOTTeVEST jacket for several years now and have found it increasingly useful. As the airlines get more stingy about luggage and even carry-ons, it makes sense to try to keep your gadgets on your person when traveling. Plus, I attend a lot of trade shows, including the upcoming CES in Las Vegas, and I like to carry a lot of items, including business cards, battery packs, chargers, and USB cables—not to mention my iPhone and iPad mini. SCOTTeVEST's travel jacket with hidden pockets can handle all that, and more.

All of the outstanding protective iPhone 6s cases included in this head-to-head battle have to meet a minimum criteria; and therefore, they all have the following core features in common. They are all waterproof to a depth of at least six feet for a minimum of half an hour and they are all drop-proof from a height of at least six feet. Additionally, these cases can all be considered full-time-use cases, which means that they allow full access to all of the iPhone's ports, controls, and features, without ever having to remove the case itself. Read on to see which of these quality cases—the Lifeproof Nüüd, the Catalyst, or the Punkcase Spikestar—is the best rugged waterproof iPhone 6s case.

iPhone 6s and 6s Plus users can utilize 3D Touch for a plethora of convenient actions and previews. One such action is the ability to 3D Touch a group text in order to individually text a specific person from the group. This saves you the step of opening a new message and searching for the contact when you already have their information right in front of you. Here’s how to 3D Touch a group text to contact anyone in the text individually.

Twelve South has easily become one of my go-to places for fantastic and gorgeous iPhone and iPad accessories. This time, the company is pushing innovation with a sleek charging stand that can charge any lightning device you have for it: the HiRise Deluxe ($34.99). From charging your iPhone (in its case) to the new Apple Pencil, this may be Twelve South’s most useful accessory yet.

I'm always on the lookout for the best iPhone 6 battery cases and I've always been happy with Moshi phone cases in general, so I was happy to try the new Moshi iGlaze Ion Battery Case for iPhone 6 and 6s ($99.95). It's quick to charge up and quick to power up your phone. The outer charging case can be removed when you don't need it, leaving the slim and beautiful inner shell to protect your iPhone 6 or 6s. 

Easily installed to existing windows, AXIS Gear allows you to control or automate your window shades with your iPhone. The Indiegogo project is looking to fundraise the manufacturing of its product. You can set scheduling to open the morning blinds and lower them at sunset. Control your curtains with or without iPhone via the AXIS gear motor; it's also fully compatible with other smart home systems.

Don’t ask me how, but I stumbled upon YouTuber TechRax’s video in which he tests the iPhone's durability by spinning it in a paint shaker. You remember those machines at hardware stores that chug paint around really fast to mix the colors? Yeah, that. Naturally, I found myself yelling at the screen, “Nooo!” and wanted to bring you the same discomfort.

If you’re enrolled in Apple’s Public Beta Program, transferring data from your old iPhone to a new one isn’t quite so simple. Any iTunes or iCloud backup made from your current iPhone running the iOS 9 public beta is not compatible with the shipping version of iOS 9 running on your new iPhone. The only way to unenroll from the beta program is to restore your iPhone with the iOS 8 backup you made before signing up. However, if like me you've acquired a lot of data since then; restoring to the old back up could be a deal breaker. Here's how to easily transfer your data from an old iPhone currently enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program to your new iPhone.

Cloud-based storage is now an everyday thing, and I have reviewed several services at iPhone Life over the years. However, newer options are always becoming available, and if you are looking to back up, sync, or share your important data, then you might want to check out this review. Mainly I will focus on a lunchbox-sized storage gadget from Western Digital called the MyCloud Mirror ($309.99), but I'll also share some other options that I have tested.

As a reviewer, I receive all type of gear and accessories, from iPad cases to styluses and light bulbs to remote controls. Out of all of the products I receive to evaluate, only a few make it into my regular technology repertoire. Its not that I don’t use other items I’ve reviewed, but these have taken up residence in my office, I keep them handy and actually rely on them to do my work. I think that is the highest praise for a technology accessory. I won’t provide deep reviews in these posts, but I will be telling you why I like the item, and what has made it indispensable to my work.

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