Cullen Thomas is a senior instructor at iPhone Life. For ten years as faculty at Maharishi University, Cullen taught subjects ranging from camera and audio hardware to game design. Cullen applies a passion for gadgetry to answer questions about iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple cloud services; to teach live classes; and to specialize in the privacy and security aspects of the Apple ecosystem. Cullen has dual degrees in Media & Communications and Literature, and a Masters degree from the David Lynch Graduate School of Cinematic Arts.
Offline, Cullen designs videogames with Thought Spike Games, writes fiction, and studies new nerdery.
Mastodon: @CullenWritesTech@infosec.exchange
Email: cullen@iphonelife.com
Signal: +1-512-814-5526
By Cullen Thomas
We've all been there: You need to send a document and it has to be a fax, but you ditched your fax machine (and landline) long ago. Thankfully, it couldn't be easier, and in most cases free, to send a fax from your iPhone using an app downloaded from the App Store. We'll show you how to send a fax from your iPhone using a great faxing app.
By Cullen Thomas
Disney Plus, the Disney streaming service that lets you download Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, National Geographic, and more. Streaming Disney movies on your iPad was expensive before Disney+, you had to buy them each individually, and downloading wasn’t always available. Now, you can download Disney movies to your heart’s content with Disney+. Here's everything you need to know about Disney's new streaming service, including how much Disney+ costs, what Disney+ includes, how to download the app, how to view Disney movies and TV shows on your iPhone or iPad, and how to save Disney+ content to watch offline.
By Cullen Thomas
Text message conversations may contain evidence of important memories, and if you’re like me, you probably want to download your iMessages, save your messages, print your messages, or do something, anything, to make those exchanges more secure and accessible. One useful trick to save those interactions is to use the Messages Mac application to download your message history as a PDF file. This will let you keep that conversation on your computer and share it as you like, whether it was a conversation with a friend who isn't around anymore, or with a landlord and you need a record. Read on to find out how to turn an Messages conversation into a document you can save on your computer, or print later.
By Cullen Thomas
By Cullen Thomas
Have you ever wanted your iPhone to automatically read your texts to you? It's possible! With this feature turned on, when you're sitting in the car, or out on a walk at night, Siri will announce your messages' contents as they arrive. Let's cover how to turn on the feature and have Siri read your text messages.
By Cullen Thomas
When iPadOS 13 came out, I was delighted to discover that I could use a mouse with an iPad, as long as the mouse used Bluetooth. When Apple released iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4, it added even more support for using a trackpad or wireless mouse for the iPad, iPad Pro, or even an iPhone, if it's the correct model. Here's how to connect your iPad mouse or trackpad to your tablet.
By Cullen Thomas
Want to use your iPad as a second monitor for your Mac? Apple's Sidecar has you covered! You can use your iPad as a second screen for your Mac to extend or mirror your display.
By Cullen Thomas
It’s official. Apple has killed off iTunes, marking the end of its oldest and most iconic piece of software. Beginning with macOS 10.15 (Catalina), iTunes is no more, prompting many to ask: How do I back up my iPhone without iTunes? The answer is simple: You can back up your iPhone in Catalina or later by using Finder on your Mac and, of course, you can back up your iPhone to iCloud. This article covers both options.
By Cullen Thomas
The Sign in with Apple button lets you use your Apple ID to sign in to websites and their associated apps securely, privately, and without the hassle of a million different passwords to keep track of. Sign in with Apple looks just like the Sign in with Google and Sign in with Facebook buttons you often see when creating new accounts, but unlike Google and Facebook, Apple doesn’t give away any of your information—no advertising profiles, no usage statistics. Read on to find out how to use Login with Apple to secure and simplify your online life.
If you’re wondering how to save battery on your iPhone, you’re probably thinking about keeping it going through the day. Saving battery doesn't just mean making your iPhone last longer on one charge, it also means making sure your iPhone's lithium-ion battery itself lasts longer, thus extending the life of your iPhone; and the sooner you start, the better. To help you save battery on your iPhone and extend the life of the physical battery, we'll explain how to check your iPhone Battery Health regularly, when you should replace a worn out battery, how to take care of your lithium-ion battery’s physical safety, and what to do if your phone won’t charge. Let’s get started.
