iPhone Life - Best Apps, Top Tips, Great Gear

Before the recently enhanced Apple TV was introduced, rumor sites speculated that Apple might actually make large-screen television sets and embed its Apple TV intelligence into them. I was never a fan of that strategy. TV sets are fragile and bulky, and Apple doesn't need to get into that business. For several years, I have relied on an Epson projector connected to an Apple TV for my home entertainment. I've never looked back since I set up the home theater system. My screen is as large as my wall, which is far bigger than any TV set at Best Buy. I mounted the Epson projector to my wall and painted the screen-side of the wall with a special paint to make the image even better.

Walmart hasn't adopted Apple Pay, and it's not clear whether it will (though one report I read said the company is increasingly open to it). Now, however, you have another option for paying at Walmart. Last week the company launched a new mobile payment system at selected stores that lets you pay for your purchase at the checkout counter by scanning a QR code with your iPhone or iPad. (For it to work on an iPad, though, you'll likely need to have a cellular data model.) The new mobile payment system will be available nationwide by the first half of next year.

Social media is one of many ways to keep in contact with someone these days; it makes sense to include that information within a contact card, especially for the people you interact with most. Doing so allows you to view their social media profile directly from Contacts. Here’s how to include someone’s social media profile information in their contact card.

It seems like there are thousands of fitness apps to choose from and little advice on where to get started. Meanwhile, the most difficult part of any workout routine is to begin. Running, in particular, can feel daunting when you’re sitting on the couch, but nothing beats the movement of propelling one’s body through the air. Here’s a list of four running apps to help beginners feel like pros.

I use reading glasses for some things, a concession to middle age, but fortunately I don't ever need them when I'm using my iPad. That's because I've adjusted the settings so that the text is larger and bolded, making it much easier to see. These settings apply to all of Apple's apps and to third-party apps that support Apple's Dynamic Type. Ever since iOS 8 was introduced, Apple has gathered text size, bold, view, and brightness into a single panel in Settings.

How to Hide Subscriptions on iPhone & iPad

Want to keep your subscriptions private? Many people want to know how to hide subscriptions on their iPhone or iPad, but it's not completely possible at this time. We can show you how to hide subscriptions from your Family Sharing group, though! Of course, keeping your iPhone locked goes a long way toward keeping your subscriptions and subscription history private; we'll show you how.

Rumor of Apple doing away with the headphone jack in favor of a thinner iPhone 7 has caught the Internet on fire. Apple devices have had some wild, unfounded rumors in the past, but this one seems likely as our smartphones continue to flatten like pancakes. Plus, as mentioned in our previous iPhone 7 rumors post, Apple filed a patent for a D-shaped headphone jack. But the rumors have spun out of control and I hear talk of a single lightning connector for dual purpose, charging and headphones. So what is Apple really up to?

Reviewing the iPad Pro, I can’t help but feel like it was made for artists. The best apps I’ve seen optimized for the device are sketching apps. One such app is part of Adobe’s creative cloud, Adobe Photoshop Sketch (free). It’s still too early to find art solely made on the iPad Pro, but I decided to scour Behance for art specifically created with Adobe Photoshop Sketch on the iPad. Here’s my favorites.

I've always admired the RUNNUR bandolier-style messenger bags when I've seen them at various tradeshows. At the recent New York City Comicon, I saw RUNNUR's exhibit and noticed an iPad-specific offering, which I was fortunate enough to try. The Shoulder Sling Case ($60) is a nylon case for an iPad or iPad mini, with the screen exposed for easy access. There are four different D-ring metal loops to connect the included padded strap. There's a handy hand grip that also doubles as a stand.

One of the interesting new features of iOS 9 is its "proactive" smarts. Apple wants your device to anticipate what you want to do depending on the context. A good example of that is how your iPhone or iPad now responds when you plug in earbuds or headphones. Your device figures that you want to listen to something, and a small icon appears in the lower left corner of your lock screen that shows the most recent audio app you've been using, whether that's Apple Music, Spotify, Podcasts, or any other app.

Twelve South has easily become one of my go-to places for fantastic and gorgeous iPhone and iPad accessories. This time, the company is pushing innovation with a sleek charging stand that can charge any lightning device you have for it: the HiRise Deluxe ($34.99). From charging your iPhone (in its case) to the new Apple Pencil, this may be Twelve South’s most useful accessory yet.

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