iPhone Life - Best Apps, Top Tips, Great Gear

Everyone who has wondered how to get Starz without cable can now rejoice. The premium cable channel is now available as a standalone service, joining similar offerings from HBO and Showtime that launched last year. The service is less expensive, at $8.99 a month, compared to $10.99 for Showtime and $14.99 for HBO. In addition, it allows you not only to stream movies and shows but also download them — which makes it unique among the premium services. Note, however, that Starz doesn't stream its programming live, instead making all of its content on-demand.

There comes a time in every parent’s life when they’re waiting for their teenager to get home. Sure, you could sit on the couch worrying, trying to keep your eyes open long enough to know they’ve safely returned. Or you can use Find My Friends on your iPhone to have your phone alert you when they get home. That way, you can go to bed, relax, and as soon as they pull up, your phone will let you know they’ve arrived. Here’s how.

Flip Apple Watch top image

By default, the Digital Crown on the Apple Watch is on the right side like a traditional watch. But did you know you can flip your Apple Watch face around so that the Digital Crown is on the left of the watch? I did this when I first bought the device because I’m left-handed, and I wear my watch on my right wrist. Here's how to flip Apple Watch face.

Over the years I've written a lot about great Bluetooth speakers, in particular great Bluetooth speakers that are rugged and outdoor friendly. One of the most common questions I receive in the comments section of these articles has been, "Out of all the rugged speakers, which has the best sound and the loudest volume?" Do I ever have an answer for you now! Not only does this new Bluetooth speaker from Monster boast some of the loudest, most robust audio of any Bluetooth speaker I've come across, rugged or otherwise, it is packed with features that elevate it so far above the competition that it is in a league of its own.

When it comes to tech products people usually just go with the flow when it comes to style and design. They like their iPhones and iPads to look good, but the accessories usually just serve a purpose. If you are looking for the best external batteries to charge your iPhone on the go, you may not pay much attention to design. But Moshi wants you to love the way your accessories look just as much as you love the design of your iDevices. This design dedication is noticeable with the Moshi IonBanks.

The Apple weather app that comes preinstalled on all iPhones is easy to use and simple to navigate; however, it doesn’t give you a whole lot of detail. You can see a general expectation of this week in weather, but that’s about all. Luckily, there are plenty of weather apps available in the App Store that provide most information in just as eloquent a package. So here’s the top five free weather apps for iPhone.

In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, Apple released two videos featuring the life of a teenager named Dillan who uses Apple products to communicate and express his thoughts and creativity. Dillan is autistic and nonverbal, but he is insightful and creative with complex thoughts. Dillon has been using augmented and alternative communication apps for three years to help him communicate, and the videos show how integral the technology has become to his life.

In the Calendar app, it’s helpful to have multiple calendars for different areas of life. You might have a personal reminders calendar, one for work, one for home, one for family, etc. Each calendar is also color coded to make telling them apart easier; you can also view individual calendars. What happens, though, when you accidentally place an event in the wrong calendar? Easy, simply follow these steps to move it to a different one.

Summertime is just around the corner. That means it’s time to prepare for pool parties, camping and kayaking, or playing on the beach. Wherever you go, having a portable Bluetooth speaker is a must for anyone who wants to enjoy their music too. Inateck sent me its Mercury Box ($39.99) shower Bluetooth speaker to try out. The two most important features for me were portability and water resistance. So I put the Mercury Box to the test.

The iPhone has a camera app for taking pictures, but the iPad also has a Photobooth app similar to the one most Apple computers have. Unlike the camera app on your phone, the Photobooth app has filters and effects to alter the image you’re capturing before you even take the picture. Personally, the Kaleidoscope effect is my favorite—everything looks cool. Here’s how to add and change effects in Photobooth on your iPad.

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