iPhone Life - Best Apps, Top Tips, Great Gear

Best Tech to Bring to the Cookout

While cooking over fire may seem like an inherently primitive and lo-fi task, high-tech tools can make your barbecues easier and more enjoyable. In testing this new smart cookout gear, I was surprised and excited by how much it improved my cooking. Here is my definitive list of smart gadgets to help you channel your inner grill master and enhance your next outdoor gathering.

How to Organize Your Calendar in 2025

(Sponsored Post) By Amy Spitzfaden Both on Thu, 02/13/2025

Apple is pretty good about updating its products, but it seems to have forgotten about the Calendar app and its many downsides. The makers of Informant 5, on the other hand, do not forget to regularly improve their app based on user experience. The latest updates to this calendar and task-management app are a productivity game-changer.

Taking the baton from Apple in the war on privacy, Microsoft is suing the Justice Department for the right to tell its customers when the government is looking at their emails. Microsoft receives thousands of government requests for emails and documents, and it wants to let its users know when the government is snooping on them. The lawsuit cites a violation of our Fourth and First Amendment constitutional rights.

Wi-Fi Assist was introduced with iOS 9. When enabled, Wi-Fi Assist will automatically switch over to your data plan if your Wi-Fi connection becomes too slow. When the feature was released, a lot of people were upset by the surprise charges they received from their data bills. With iOS 9.3, however, Apple added the ability to see how much data Wi-Fi Assist is using. Here’s how to check.

How to Jump to the Top of Any App: the Easiest Way (2023)

Did you know that a simple iPhone gesture can save your thumb the workout of scrolling back to the top of most apps? Across all apps, pages, and platforms, this simple tip will automatically return you to the top of any screen. Whether you've been scrolling Instagram or Facebook, or you've been searching in the Settings app, just tap once at the top of the iPhone's screen to snap back to the beginning.

I had the opportunity to try a few VRS Design cases for my new iPhone SE, including their Crystal Bumper Series Case ($32.99). While most iPhone 5s  cases will "just work" out of the box, VRS deliberately created new versions for the iPhone SE. The result is, while the phone has the hard, flat edges of the iPhone 5 and 5s, when ensconced in cases from the Crystal Bumper Series or High Pro Shield Series or Thor Series, they resemble the soft, curved edges of the iPhone 6 and 6s. If you like that, then these cases can make the iPhone SE feel like the 6 series.

With 3D Touch, you can quickly preview information, web pages, access Quick Actions, and more functions for apps are being added all the time. One such function is the ability to get information about a location and select actions pertaining to the address in the Maps app. You can use 3D Touch when pressing a pin or an address in Maps and it’s a super convenient way to jump into getting directions. Here’s how to get information about a location by pressing a pin in Maps.

Everyone who has wondered how to get Starz without cable can now rejoice. The premium cable channel is now available as a standalone service, joining similar offerings from HBO and Showtime that launched last year. The service is less expensive, at $8.99 a month, compared to $10.99 for Showtime and $14.99 for HBO. In addition, it allows you not only to stream movies and shows but also download them — which makes it unique among the premium services. Note, however, that Starz doesn't stream its programming live, instead making all of its content on-demand.

There comes a time in every parent’s life when they’re waiting for their teenager to get home. Sure, you could sit on the couch worrying, trying to keep your eyes open long enough to know they’ve safely returned. Or you can use Find My Friends on your iPhone to have your phone alert you when they get home. That way, you can go to bed, relax, and as soon as they pull up, your phone will let you know they’ve arrived. Here’s how.

Flip Apple Watch top image

By default, the Digital Crown on the Apple Watch is on the right side like a traditional watch. But did you know you can flip your Apple Watch face around so that the Digital Crown is on the left of the watch? I did this when I first bought the device because I’m left-handed, and I wear my watch on my right wrist. Here's how to flip Apple Watch face.

Over the years I've written a lot about great Bluetooth speakers, in particular great Bluetooth speakers that are rugged and outdoor friendly. One of the most common questions I receive in the comments section of these articles has been, "Out of all the rugged speakers, which has the best sound and the loudest volume?" Do I ever have an answer for you now! Not only does this new Bluetooth speaker from Monster boast some of the loudest, most robust audio of any Bluetooth speaker I've come across, rugged or otherwise, it is packed with features that elevate it so far above the competition that it is in a league of its own.

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