iPhone Life - Best Apps, Top Tips, Great Gear

Why Is My Apple Watch Vibrating but Not Showing Notifications? (watchOS 10)

Every Apple Watch owner experiences phantom vibrations from time to time. You’ve probably found this article because your Apple Watch vibrated for seemingly no reason. It can get annoying if it happens often and you frequently find yourself raising your wrist and seeing no new notifications. Let’s dive into why your Apple Watch is vibrating but not showing notifications.

Thanks to Apple's predictive text feature, called QuickType, your iOS device will suggest words that it thinks you want to use next so you don't have to type them yourself. While AutoCorrect guesses at a word, based on the letters you typed, QuickType predicts what word you might type next based on the context of your message or document. If you find QuickType's context-based suggestions creepy rather than cool, you can easily hide the feature, or you can turn it off completely. Here's how to turn off predictive text completely on your iPhone. 

Styluses are not much in style anymore, the Apple Pencil still being a somewhat enigmatic and premium exception. That doesn't mean you can't buy good ones for an affordable price. Those of us addicted to scribbling, old-fashioned note-taking, doodling, or sketching know the good ones. A good stylus pen, like a fine pen, has a certain weighted balance and comfortable feel that makes it practically seem to disappear in your hand. The Lynktec Apex Fusion Stylus pen ($59.99) is one such fine electronic handwriting implement.

By default, when you create a new note in the Notes app, you’re immediately creating the body of the note. This is so you can jump straight into the thought you were having and get it on “paper” in the Notes app. However, it’s easier to keep notes organized and know what is what if each note has its own headline. Here’s how to automatically start each note with a headline.

This year, Father’s Day is on June 19. If your dad is a gadget fidler or technological optimist, we’ve got some great present ideas for the nerd that raised you. On Father’s Day, give your dad a gift he’ll love and laugh at all his terrible dad jokes. Then leave him alone, because let’s be honest, that’s probably his ideal dad’s day. Here’s some of our favorite tech gifts for dad this Father’s day.

My coworker recently shared with me Mashable's article, “The iPhone 7 Sounds like It Will Be Totally Boring,” an opinion piece by Raymond Wong. In summation, the article states that the iPhone 7 will be boring, because we already know all the details far before the keynote. But has anyone stopped to think, “Yeah, it’s nothing revolutionary to me, but I have access to this technology and the money to own it — and that’s amazing.” Just so we can really get an idea of how fortunate we are to have any iPhone at all, let’s take a look at a map of how much of the population has access to smartphones globally. Then tell me how boring any iPhone is.

If you've ever wondered how to delete multiple contacts on iPhone or how to create groups of contacts (hint: it requires a computer), then you know the iOS Contacts app that comes with your iPhone has a few shortcomings. For the casual user, these shortcomings may be no more than an inconvenience; but for power users who manage hundreds or thousands of business contacts, these shortcomings may be deal breakers. If you're looking for a great alternative to Apple's Contacts app, read on for three alternative address book, phone book, and contacts apps that will meet your contact-management needs.

When you have an iPad, knowing a few keyboard shortcuts for your external keyboard is essential. Unless you enjoy touching the screen every two seconds, keyboard shortcuts are great for completing common tasks in a second. This tip will focus on two. Once you’ve used them a few times, they’ll become habit. Here’s how to Spotlight search and return to Home screen with keyboard shortcuts on iPad.

International travel can be the adventure of a life time. It can also be exhausting and complicated. Here are 15 free iPhone apps in no particular order that will help make everything about international travel a breeze, from planning the trip, navigating airports, and finding the best places to stay,  to seeing the sights, negotiating unfamiliar languages, and staying healthy and safe. Check out our list and let us know in the comments if we missed any. Bon voyage! 

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