iPhone Life - Best Apps, Top Tips, Great Gear

The next Apple event is the 31st annual Worldwide Developers Conference, where the company will unveil the next versions of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, the mobile software for iPhones and iPads, and hold online sessions for Apple developers. The developers conference kicks off at 10 a.m. PT on June 22 with the WWDC Apple keynote address, which will livestream on Apple’s website and via the new Apple Developer app for the Apple TV, iPad, iPhone, and Mac. Along with its September iPhone announcement, the WWDC Apple keynote is one of the biggest Apple events of the year. We'll be offering live commentary in our Facebook group and in the live recording of the iPhone Life Podcast right after at 1 p.m. PT. Here’s how you can watch the WWDC 2020 Apple Keynote too.

Can you use a Bluetooth mouse with an iPad? You can now! We've long been able to use accessories like Bluetooth speakers, headphones, or the Apple Pencil with our iPads, but starting with iPadOS 13, iPad mouse and trackpad support finally arrived in a limited way as an Accessibility feature. Now, with iPadOS 13.4, pairing and using a mouse with your iPad is a fully integrated feature. In even better news, Apple announced a new Magic Keyboard with a trackpad with a cursor for navigating, editing, and gestures. We've already gone over iPad tutorials and tips such as how to take a screenshot on an iPad, how to use an iPad as a second monitor with Sidecar, how to set up your iPad for work, and even recommendations for the best iPad Pro apps for professionals. Now, let's learn how to pair and use your iPad with a wireless mouse or trackpad.

In every issue of iPhone Life magazine, we feature the iPhone Home screens of people from different walks of life, so our readers can see how they use iPhone apps to meet a variety of needs. In our Summer 2020 issue, we featured multimedia artist Matt Wyatt from Rochester, New Hampshire. Matt's work includes abstract expressionism, collage, and photography. In 2011, he cofounded the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts and has served as a member of Rochester’s Commission for Arts & Culture since 2013.

Over the past dozen or so years, I have reviewed hundreds if not thousands of products. One of my favorite aspects of this is when a product I previously reviewed gets better and I get a chance to cover the newer version. I also appreciate multi-function devices. I have so many gadgets already so the more functions a single device can perform, the better, as long as there are no compromises. This is the case with Pitaka's Air Omni (starting at $119). While it is available on Kickstarter, and I hesitate to recommend crowdfunded projects because of the uncertainty, Pitaka is a well-established, longtime Apple accessory maker and this product is real, as Pitaka sent me a review unit to try.

With the continued success of YouTube, Twitch, and other user-generated-content video-streaming services, an opportunity for anyone with a captivating presence and good communication skills is available. But just like the days of the California Gold Rush, those with better tools often (but not always) have a better chance to strike it rich. In today's internet streaming boom, those better tools equate to the high-quality camera optics, noise-free audio recording, and exceptional lighting necessary to capture those captivating mobile moments. Joby has assembled a package equivalent to the prospector's mule, shovel, and pan. Will the compilation of equipment the company assembled into a single kit, aptly called the Joby GorillaPod Mobile Vlogging Kit ($199.95), help deliver vlogging gold? Read on to find out.

A billboard outside Las Vegas declares, “What Happens on your iPhone stays on your iPhone,” as part of a massive push by Apple to define the brand as one that stands up for your privacy. You may have noticed the advertising. A TV spot from Apple declares: “There is more private information on your phone than in your home. . . Your location, your messages, your heart rate after a run; these are private things, personal things, and they should belong to you.” As emotive music swells over those last lines, I’m not left inspired. Instead, I feel a sense of dystopia at living in a world where an elite brand like Apple sells you your own privacy as if it were a luxury commodity. Surely nothing should be more obviously a private possession than the right to possess privacy. Yet, there is money to be made in selling privacy, and that is a sure sign that we do not own it by rights. But what exactly is Apple selling? I’d like to discuss a few of the more common fears and annoyances associated with privacy, as well as what Apple is doing and what you can do to protect yourself.

Steve Jobs had a singular vision for his company, his computer, and even his customers. His leadership led Apple to become the company it is today, and his successor, Tim Cook, has leveraged his supply chain expertise to usher in an even more profitable and successful Apple. Each was a CEO for his time. Cook would be the first to tell you he stood on the shoulders of a giant.

I'm always looking for the perfect wireless charging accessory, and with so many gadgets to charge, one thing I look for is the smallest footprint possible. Fortunately, Moshi sent me the SnapTo Magnetic Wireless Charger $49.95) to try, and it offers something impressive, no footprint. That's because it uses a combination of magnets to keep your phone in contact with the rubberized charging pad, plus an optional swiveling wall-mount that attaches via the included 3M adhesive strips.

Using folders is a great way to add applications to the Dock on your iPhone. If you’ve ever wished you could have more than four apps in your iPhone dock, this tip will teach you how to add a folder to an iPhone Dock and have way more than four apps! By using folders in the Dock, you can increase your productivity. No more scrolling between Home screens looking for your favorite app. Let’s get going with how to add extra apps to your iPhone’s Dock.

As Apple has made advancements in waterproofing the Apple Watch, one thing was holding it back. Leather bands are not meant to be used in the water. Finally, Nomad, the makers of numerous high-quality leather accessories for Apple devices (and others), has developed a leather watch band that's up to the task. I picked up an Active Strap for Apple Watch ($69.96) at the recent Consumer Electronics Show just in time for a trip to Florida and the Bahamas. Ordinarily, I would have left the Apple Watch at home, but not this time.

I know the latest iPhones are water-resistant thanks to their IP68 rating, but I don't trust them. Besides, if you're on the lake or ocean and your phone ends up in the water, it won't float! Fortunately, I found the H2O Proof Floating Phone Holder (starting at $9.99) from WOW Watersports. These are the same folks who made the waterproof floating speaker I reviewed.

At the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, I met up with the inventor of the SpiiderGriip Phone Grip ($19.99) and had a chance to try the company's alternative to a PopSocket. There are several advantages the SpiiderGriip has that make it much more robust and reliable for active users than the PopSocket, such as a pop-out handle to insert one or two fingers in. The video demonstration shows rock climbers and weight lifters taking selfies with ease while running through their activities. 

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