iPhone Life - Best Apps, Top Tips, Great Gear

5 Things You Need to Know from Apple's iPhone 16 Event

Apple's much-anticipated fall event brought us updates to three device lines: the iPhone 16, the Apple Watch 10, and the AirPods 4. Each category brought us a few headlining features, but whether or not you should upgrade each device depends largely on what device you already have. The entire 16 line sports the A18 chip, specially designed for Apple Intelligence features, and a brand new Camera Control button. We also see some Pro features come to the base models, such as the Action Button. The Apple Watch 10 sports a slimmer profile and a larger screen option than before and an important health feature that detects sleep apnea. The AirPods 4 also sees many of the AirPods Pro 2 features join its ranks, while the AirPods Pro 2 are getting a software update that can make them function as hearing aids. Here are the top five takeaways from Apple's iPhone 16 event.

Apple's fall 2024 event, "It's Glowtime," announced two Apple Watch models, the new Apple Watch Series 10 and an updated Apple Watch Ultra 2. The biggest updates are a new Sleep Apnea detection feature and a Translation app on both watch models. Plus, the Apple Watch 10 has a bigger and brighter screen despite having a thinner and lighter body. Here's everything you need to know about the new Apple Watches and whether they are worth the upgrade.

How to Organize Your Calendar in 2025

(Sponsored Post) By Amy Spitzfaden Both on Thu, 02/13/2025

Apple is pretty good about updating its products, but it seems to have forgotten about the Calendar app and its many downsides. The makers of Informant 5, on the other hand, do not forget to regularly improve their app based on user experience. The latest updates to this calendar and task-management app are a productivity game-changer.

iView: Drone On

By Hal Goldstein

I’ve long thought about using a drone to capture footage of my Iowa woods. Knowing nothing about drones, I hesitated for years, concerned that I would crash it and it would disappear. I yielded and purchased the 5-star-rated DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo ($599). About half a pound, the Mini 2 looks like a bug-like creature (the light weight means no government registration is required). I am impressed despite a frustrating first few weeks.

How to Use Emergency SOS via Satellite on iPhone 14

The new iPhone 14 satellite SOS feature makes it possible for users to contact emergency services via satellite even if they don't have an internet or cellular connection. Users can send important information about the situation via text and their location via Find My. Apple created a demo to familiarize you with this feature so you can use it confidently in a real-life emergency.

How to Use Scribble on iPad

By Rachel Needell

Scribble is a super fun feature available on the iPad that allows you to use your Apple Pencil to handwrite text into any text field you would normally use the keyboard for, and it will automatically turn into typed text. Not only is the feature surprisingly accurate at picking up even messy handwriting, but there are also written commands that you can perform, like slashing through a word to highlight, that make this feature very convenient!

8 Hobbies to Learn on Your iPhone

Whether you’re stuck at home or just find yourself bored with your usual pastimes, you can effortlessly find a new hobby if you’ve got your iPhone nearby. From learning a second language to picking up better health habits, there’s an app for just about anything. Below you can find a list of some of the best apps for getting started with new pursuits and cultivating your talents.

5 Apps to Start Your Side Hustle

Nowadays, it feels like everyone is running a side business out of their bedroom or selling clothes online. Additionally, business closures in the early days of the pandemic forced many people to turn to the internet to keep their families afloat. We've compiled a list of five very different apps where you can set up a small side hustle, or grow that side hustle into something bigger!

Hidden Tips & Tricks for Your iPhone

By Amy Spitzfaden Both

Hidden Tips & Tricks for Your iPhone

Our iPhones are capable of so much, yet many of us only scratch the surface with our daily use. Expanding your iPhone skills doesn’t mean you have to create feature-length movies or become a high-level app developer. You can simply learn hidden features that make your daily tasks easier. So, let’s take a look at the best hidden iPhone tricks to make your iOS use a little easier and a lot more fun.

6 Best Notetaking Apps for iPad

One of the great things about iPads is their combination of portability and a large screen. This makes them perfect for reading e-books, digital comics, and magazines. It also makes them a potential replacement for a paper notebook, especially when paired with a good stylus like the Apple Pencil. Of course, to replace someone’s sketchbook, journal, or notepad, the iPad needs a good notetaking app. As someone who used to love brainstorming ideas and writing short stories by hand, I’ve long been curious if the iPad could help me recapture that feeling. So, I decided to look at some of the most popular notetaking apps available for the iPad, all of which offer their core functionality for free (and most of which have premium versions with more features if you decide you love them).

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