iPhone Life - Best Apps, Top Tips, Great Gear

Apple Watch Series Comparison: From the First Generation to Apple Watch Series 9

It's hard to believe it's been ten years since the first-generation Apple Watch debuted. At first equal parts derided and celebrated, the Apple Watch has since all but taken over the world. From features like water resistance to blood oxygen tracking and car crash detection, Apple's self-described "most personal device" has evolved a lot over the years. Let's take a look at all Apple Watches in order from the original to the Series 10.

Some of iPhone Life's most popular articles have been about saving battery life on the iPhone, which just goes to show how much room Apple still has to improve when it comes to battery life. Luckily, you have a new source of information for saving battery life that’s directly from Apple: Battery Life Suggestions. Now, when you view Battery in your Settings app, Apple will present some suggestions for ways you can improve your battery life. Here’s how to use those Battery Life Suggestions for better battery life with iOS 11 on iPhone.

WatchOS 4 was probably the best Apple Watch software update we’d ever seen, especially for those who workout with their Apple Watch. In this update, not only did Apple add new workouts like HIIT, it also added the ability to quickly and easily swipe over to music from within the Workout app on Apple Watch. Now you don’t need to change apps and fumble around mid workout just to change the song. Here’s how to easily access music while working out with your Apple Watch.

Everyone has a hard time getting to sleep at some point or another. And none of us appreciate alarms that startle us awake and out of the sweet, sweet joy of slumber. Plus, I don’t know about you, but any app that helps me focus is welcome in my life. Which is why, this week, I’m featuring my new favorite app: White Noise ($0.99). With over 40 sounds (and more available for download) that you can mix and record as you please, White Noise allows you to create various sound playlists that you can return to and share as you please. We’ll go into more on what White Noise does and why we love it below.

We’ve been patiently waiting for the official release of Apple’s tenth-anniversary iPhone. Now, it’s just days away from being in stores— get it on November 3. But why wait in line when you can pre-order the iPhone X online now. I would hurry though; it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the shipping date gets moved further out very quickly. It’s Apple’s first thousand dollar iPhone, and many of you have said you’re all-in and ready to buy. Now’s your chance! The iPhone X is officially available for pre-order on apple.com.

In Apple's native Notes app for iPhone and iPad, you can designate a note to always appear at the top of your list under the Pinned tab. This is helpful if there’s a note you consistently refer to, such as the one you use for grocery shopping every week. You can also pin multiple notes to the top of your list. Here’s how to pin a note to the top of your Notes list on the iPhone.

Anxious to get your hands on the iPhone X? In the 69th episode, members of the iPhone Life team share pro tips for making sure you're one of the first to pre-order Apple's premium new iPhone. Other topics include listeners' most loved and hated features of iOS 11 and addictive iPhone games we're loving right now. CORRECTION: Pre-orders start Friday, October 27, at 12 a.m., Pacific time, not Saturday as stated in the podcast. Basically this means you'll be staying up very late on October 26 to place your order the minute October 27 begins.

Top iOS 11 Tips & Tricks

By Rheanne Taylor

Thanks to iOS 11, your iPhone and iPad just got a lot more powerful. With each new release, Apple focuses on improving old features as well as delivering new ones. So whether you’re looking to kickstart your productivity by scanning documents in the Notes app or train yourself to be a safer driver with Do Not Disturb While Driving, this guide is your T go-to source for all that and more. 

The Apple Watch includes lots of various options for customizing your Apple Watch face. Most of those options appear as some variation of a traditional watch face. But you can also choose to use one of your own photos, or even a Live photo, as your watch face on Apple Watch. Here’s how to create a customized Apple Watch face from your photos on your iPhone.

Stranger Things was a surprise hit upon its release on Netflix in July 2016. This 1980s-inspired science fiction-horror series featured eight episodes last year, and returns with nine episodes on October 27. Stranger Things Season 2 will be available exclusively on Netflix, which means you need to be subscribed to Netflix. With a Netflix subscription you’ll be able to watch Stranger Things Season 2 online through your iPhone, iPad, Macbook, or other app-enabled device. You can also stream the show through your Apple TV or smart TV when Season 2 premiers on October 27.    

If you’ve heard of Poshmark (free), then you’re already in-the-know and maybe even wondering why we’re featuring it. But there are plenty of people that haven’t heard of this app and they need to know! Poshmark is the best place to buy and sell clothing and accessories from name brands big and small, including everything from Nike to Louis Vuitton. If you love finding a good deal on thrifted clothing, but aren’t a fan of sorting through aisles and aisles of clothes, Poshmark is going to be your new favorite place to shop. If you want to buy or sell high-end clothing for less, download this app and give it a try.

If you enjoy handwriting notes on your device, it’s essential to be able to find what you’re looking for within those notes later on. Previous iterations of the Notes app only allowed you to search for words that were typed. But with iOS 11, the Notes app is capable of searching through your handwritten notes as well. Here’s how to search handwritten words in Notes with iOS 11 on iPhone or iPad.

I thought our Apple giveaway last year was huge. But this year, we’ve got prizes that you wouldn’t believe. Essentially, we’re giving away Apple’s brand new lineup. That means the winner will get the iPhone X, Apple Watch Series 3, Apple TV 4K, iPad Pro, HomePod, and AirPods. Wow! We’ve partnered with Nomad, StackSocial, and Cool Material to bring you the very best of Apple products in one HUGE giveaway. This is no joke, people. This is not spam. We are actually doing this. Between now and November 11, you can enter to win right here. The total value of all the Apple devices you could win is $2,664. This is the dream giveaway for any Apple nerd; check out the details and enter to win below.

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