I called it. Yesterday, in my article discussing T-Mobile's new pricing options, I wrote "T-Mobile is shaking things up, as usual, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the other carriers revise and revamp their offerings in response." Sure enough, Sprint has answered the call and not only met T-Mobile's pricing, it undercut the "uncarrier" in an almost desperate bid to be your next carrier.
iPhone
The ZAGG Dropguard case ($24.99) and InvisibleShield Glass Luxe ($34.99) is a perfect combo for assuring iPhone protection. The case attractively snugs over the backside and edges, while the shield slams down a force field of layered protection to the screen front. The new iPhone is here and you will want a quality case and screen protection combo to protect that 6s. ZAGG will have your iPhone's back. We'll also give you some tips to prevent smashing your screen.
How to Make iOS 9 Faster on Your Older iPhone
By Conner Carey
If you’re on an iPhone 6, the iOS 9 update likely works wonderfully and does what Apple intended. However, users of earlier models of the iPhone are reporting a major lag in performance since updating. With every software release there are bound to be bugs. If you’re considering reverting to old software, keep in mind that iOS 9.1 will soon be available. If the performance bugs are minor, I recommend you wait; however, if the update has turned your iPhone into a fancy calculator, we’ve got four ways to make it a super computer again.
Get Ready for the End-of-Year Game Rush!
By Dig Om
Game Centered features roundups and reviews of the best in iOS games and gaming related news. Among the App Store’s myriad games, it’s all too easy to overlook some of the great new releases. Each installment of Game Centered will take a closer look at a select few iOS games that are worthy of special recognition. As we near the end of 2015, we enter one of my favorite times of year as an iOS gamer. Every year around this time we start to see an influx of new games in the App Store as developers hustle to get their best games to market in time for the holiday shopping season. Here are some of the best games from Apple's own Best New Games section of the App Store.
Tip of the Day: How to Update to iOS 9
By Jim Karpen
After months of beta testing, iOS 9 will be available some time today for downloading. It offers a range of new features, including a News app, a more intelligent Siri, transit and walking directions in Maps, greater search capabilities, split-screen multitasking on the iPad, and more. I've been using the beta version since early August and really like it. In this tip I'll be covering how to update your device to iOS 9.
Now that Apple's September event is over and I've had a chance to catch a deep breath and take a step back from Apple's infamous "reality distortion" field, I can share some more perspective on Apple's new TV set-top box and what it really means (and doesn't mean) for modern gaming.
How Live Photos Work—More Details Emerge
By Jim Karpen
One of the new features of the iPhone 6s is Live Photos. Turned on by default, this feature captures images for 1.5 seconds before and after the actual still photo that you take. When you tap on your still photo, you see what appears to be a three-second video of that moment. As you can see in the embedded video below, a still photo of rippling waves can show the actual rippling when you touch the display. Apple emphasized, however, that this is not a video, and that it doesn't greatly increase the file size. Any Live Photos you take can be viewed across iOS devices. And they appear as simple jpeg images when viewed on other devices.
If you’ve followed my Game Centered column, you’re likely already familiar with SteelSeries. The company makes some of the best gaming peripherals available for Apple devices and is a brand that I’ve included in my articles numerous times before, with good reason. Whether you are a casual Crossy Road player looking for an affordable but excellent pair of headphones, or a Vainglory gamer on the pro-circuit looking for a high-end pair of headphones, SteelSeries has you covered. The company also specializes in designing game controllers for the iPhone and the iPad, and now it's unveiled its latest controller, the Nimbus, designed specifically to deliver a console-type gaming experience on the new Apple TV. On the day of the Nimbus’ announcement, we interviewed the SteelSeries CEO Ehtisham Rabanni about the controller and his thoughts on the future of gaming.
I will probably upgrade to the iPhone 6s, but not for the reasons you might think. Yes, Apple claims "The only thing that’s changed is everything" and that's true. Almost every element of the iPhone 6 has been enhanced. The metal is stronger. The screen has 3D Touch. The camera is a big improvement. The processor is faster, as are the graphics and networking. If your job was to repair iPhones, there are almost no components from the older iPhone 6 that could be reused in the iPhone 6s. It is entirely new. Everything has indeed changed. Apple has a valid point and it is also trying to head off the inevitable "nothing's changed" criticism that comes with any "s" model.
Why You Might Want to Pass on Apple’s New iPhone Lightning Dock
By Todd Bernhard
It got barely a mention during Apple's action-packed announcement on September 9, but Apple now offers an iPhone Lightning Dock, in four different colors. And if you want one, it's one of the few items announced that is actually available to order and shipping within 1–3 business days. The dock is sold in silver, space gray, gold, and rose gold to match the latest lineup of iPhone 6s colors. The dock itself is compatible with more than the iPhone 6s, specifically the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, 6, 6 Plus, 5s, 5c, 5, and iPod touch 5th and 6th generation. But it still may not be the Lightning dock for you.
iPhone Life Podcast Episode 001—iPhone 6s Announcement Preview and Rumors
By Sarah Kingsbury
We are excited to announce launch of the iPhone Life Podcast! Tune in to hear our editors share with you the latest Apple news, best apps, iPhone tricks, and the coolest accessories.
In the first episode of the iPhone Life Podcast, Sarah, Donna, and David discuss the latest iPhone 6s and Apple TV rumors leading up to the Apple annoucement. We answer all of your burning questions including: "What is Force Touch?", "Do we need a 12 MP Camera?", "Will Apple release a streaming service?", and much more.
Enter the iPhone Life Photo Contest: Deadline September 4!
By Rheanne Taylor
It's photo contest time again. We know you enjoy taking the occasional artistic shot with your iPhone, so why not get rewarded for it? Enter our iPhone Photography Contest for a chance to win awesome prizes and a spot in our magazine!
Review: Charge Up to 7 Devices with the Skiva StandCharger
By Todd Bernhard
If you have an assortment of smart devices that need to be charged daily, you probably have USB chargers in every outlet in the house. Skiva has a smart alternative and it's on sale for half price. The StandCharger 7-Port USB Charging Station ($59.99) is normally $119.99 and even that would be worth it. The well-built charger accommodates up to seven devices, including iPads and other tablets.
Review: NoiseHush Noise-Cancelling Headphones
By Brian Faulkner
NoiseHush offers two great pairs of affordable noise-cancelling headphones. The i9 BT comes with Bluetooth connectivity while the i7 does not. Check out the pros and cons of both of these pairs of headphones in this in-depth review.
The Brookstone HDMI Pocket Projector Pro ($249.99) was a wonderful surprise for me; an extremely functional, portable, and practical creation that is well worth the extra $49 investment for the required Apple A/V adapter — if you don't already have one that is. Once you've got the Apple A/V adaptor, connecting your iPad or iPhone to the projector is as simple as plugging it in and turning it on. With this projector you can instantly view your iDevice's high-definition videos and images, games, and even native iOS apps like Keynote or FaceTime, all on a variable sized viewing screen the can enlarge the image to a 115-inch diagonal size.
How to Transfer Photos from Your iPhone to Your Computer Using AirDrop
By Rheanne Taylor
There are a variety of reasons why you might want to transfer your photos from your iPhone to your computer. Maybe you’re running low on storage space and need to clear out some room in your Photos app; or maybe you just like the extra bit of security that comes with having your photos on multiple devices. Here’s how to use AirDrop to transfer photos between devices.
Apple Watch Sapphire Display Performs Poorly Against ION-X Glass
By Todd Bernhard
In this age of multi-device households, sharing accounts with family members can be a little stressful. Add a tween or teenage into the mix, and it might be enough to push you over the edge. If you’ve ever had your phone ring with a FaceTime call from your 12 year-old’s best friend or received the “iCloud is full” error message after adding a new device to your household, this article is for you.
First, it’s important to know a little bit about your Apple ID and iCloud. Your Apple ID is what gives you access to iCloud, FaceTime, iMessage, iTunes, the App Store, and Game Center, among other services. Since these are the most-used services in my house, they are the ones I’m going to talk about here. Some families choose to share an Apple ID for some services and use separate Apple IDs for others. There is no “one size fits all” cure for family device management—it all depends on your family's preferences. If you forgot your Apple ID, here's how to reset your password.
Welcome to Game Centered. Usually our Game Centered column focuses on iOS gaming apps, however this time we're taking a slightly different tack and focusing on iOS gaming gear, specifically exceptional headphones for iOS gaming. This roundup has been a long time coming. Over my years writing for iPhone Life magazine I've gotten hip to many great headphones, but only a handful would I consider optimal for the iOS gaming environment, as many factors go into making a pair of headphones optimal for the core gamer. The headphones featured here all fit that bill and address the fact that more and more core gamers are looking to their iOS devices to provide their gaming fix. It's rare that I come across reviews or roundups that focus on great gaming gear solely for the iOS gamer, and this aims to do just that. So if you are an avid, core gamer who loves playing on iOS, this one's for you!
Navigating around in a document can be challenging on your phone because it's hard to get around the page. You don't have to be frustrated by that anymore as your iPhone 6 hooks you up with an easier way to zip around the screen.