iPhone Life - Best Apps, Top Tips, Great Gear

Fixed: Stolen Device Protection Thinks I’m Not at Home

Apple’s Stolen Device Protection is a great new feature that protects your iPhone from potential thieves by preventing changes to the passcode when you’re away from home. However, some users have found that Stolen Device Protection incorrectly reports that they are away from home when they’re not. Let’s get to the bottom of why this seems to be happening.

As Apple continues to design its iPad Pro line as the laptops of the future, having a way to safely carry not only the tablet but also a variety of accessories is practically mandatory. And with the release of iPadOS, the variety of USB-C accessories that provide more accessibility, charge, and storage will continue to expand the iPad Pro accessory universe. Given the iPad's thin footprint and comparatively small charger, using a traditional laptop bag to carry an iPad collection will add unnecessary carrying weight and leave a large amount of bag capacity unused. To address this specific market need, Cocoon Innovations has designed a messenger sling that protects your expensive iPad Pro and various accessories while keeping the bag ideally slim for lightweight travels and commutes.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, in January 2019, I got a sneak peak at the Pivo Tracking Photography Mount ($179). The Pivo is a slick automatic phone or camera mount that can rotate via Bluetooth controller. The free companion app allows the mount to automatically track a user by face or action. I was really impressed, and now that the Pivo is real and I've tested a sample unit, I can finally vouch for it. 

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You might need to know how to reset AirPods Pro, second-generation AirPods, or original AirPods to factory settings if you're troubleshooting a problem or want to give or sell your old AirPods to a new user. Let's dive in with how to do an AirPods reset, including for AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro; we'll do this from your AirPods' settings in the Settings app of your iPhone or iPad. 

Apple's September 10 event is over and, as expected, the tech giant revealed three new smartphone models shipping later this month: the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max. So, what sets these phones apart from their predecessors, and who might want to purchase these new devices? Let's go over the pre-order and shipping dates, pricing, and specs of the new iPhone release. We'll discuss how the 2019 iPhones are similar, how they differ from one another, and what that means for your iPhone upgrade this year.

Apple has finally unveiled its new iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 5, and even a new seventh-generation iPad. But whether or not you’re planning to upgrade to any of the new devices Apple just announced, you’ll still want to update most of your existing Apple devices and start enjoying all the newest features of iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS as soon as possible. Here’s when you can expect to start updating the software on your Apple devices and which iPhones are compatible with iOS 13 and which Apple Watches, and iPads can run the watchOS 6 and iPadOS.

Port number to new iPhone top image

Do you need to set up a new iPhone? We'll go over how to switch iPhones, including how to transfer everything from iPhone to iPhone, including photos, contacts, other data, and even your phone number. You don't need to transfer a SIM card to port your phone number or transfer your old messages, contacts, and photos from your old phone. Here's everything you need to know about how to transfer data and how to switch your phone number to your new iPhone.

With the Files app, you can use your iPhone to view notes, images, documents, and files that you've saved from your computer or iPad to iCloud and other storage services like Dropbox and Google Drive. To view saved items using the Files app, you'll need to go to your Apple ID in the Settings app and enable iCloud Drive. Let's get started with how to use the Files app to access documents saved to iCloud Drive.

Adjust exposure iPhone camera top image

Did you know you can brighten and darken your iPhone camera shots before you even take them? You can do this by setting the exposure, and it's as easy as sliding your finger up or down. Adjusting exposure is a way to make the darks a little darker or the lights a little lighter. We'll show you how to change the exposure on your iPhone camera and create the image you want every time.

During the Space Race, the United States spent millions to develop a Space Pen that could work in zero gravity. The Russians used a pencil. The lesson is that sometimes there can be too much technology. While numerous businesses are developing robotic toys and pet food dispensers, the folks at Cheerble have introduced a lower-tech, but still technically solid alternative. It's being crowdfunded, but I know it's a real product because they sent me a review unit of the Wicked Ball (starting at $34) to try.

The iPhone's Screen Recording feature lets you record videos of your screen along with in-app sounds so that you can share videos of things like how to use your favorite golfing app or that funny GIF you found online. When you enable the Screen Recording feature in the Settings app, your iPhone can record videos of your screen that include the audio feedback on most apps. While this tip won't let you capture audio in apps like Apple Music or Netflix, it will let you record audio in most other apps. With that in mind, let's dive into how to record your screen along with in-app audio.

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