How-To

All of us have had to plow through at least one difficult day of school or work after a less-than-optimal night of sleep, or even an all nighter. But what happens when a rough night becomes the norm? The Centers for Disease Control collects data about the sleep habits of Americans, and reports that one in three of us are getting fewer than the recommended seven hours of sleep per night. Whether you can't fall asleep, can't stay asleep, or both, insomnia is not only miserable, but bad for your health. I'm one of those insomniacs that can't stay asleep; waking up more nights than not after only about four hours of shut-eye, and not being able to drift off again for at least an hour or two. If you're like me, and have spent many wakeful hours wishing you could just relax and sleep, it's time to find some help. While relaxing bedtime routines, meditation for sleep, natural insomnia remedies, calming teas, and even sleeping pills can help, there's one more thing I think you should try: a sleep app for your iPhone! I tried Sleep Genius for two weeks, and am still using it every night. Sleep Genius is a sleep app that combines soothing sleep music, a gentle alarm, a relaxation program for anxiety at any time, and even a power nap feature! Read on to learn more about Sleep Genius, and why I think you should give this sleep app a home on your iPhone.

Where is AirDrop in iOS 11?

By Conner Carey

Before iOS 11 changed the layout of Control Center, the AirDrop options were clearly visible within Control Center. With iOS 11, AirDrop is still there but hidden. If you’re wondering what happened to AirDrop, we’ll help you locate it. AirDrop in Control Center is where you choose who can find you and send you things via AirDrop. Of course, even if anyone can find you, you still have the option to decline. But it’s good to know where AirDrop has disappeared to in Control Center with iOS 11. Here’s how to find AirDrop in iOS 11 on iPhone.

I’ve heard it said over and over again that the best camera is the one you have with you. Honestly, I couldn’t agree more. I have an amazing DSLR and yet I find that the majority of my pictures are taken with my iPhone. Unfortunately, our iPhones still struggle in a lot of ways that more advanced cameras don’t. One of those ways is the iPhone’s intolerance for low-light situations. If you’re sick of blurry, unclear images, then here are a few tips and tricks that have really helped me out. Here’s how to shoot clearer, better photos on your iPhone.

Qi charging, wireless charging, inductive charging... whatever you call it, it's fast becoming a must-have feature in the smart phone world. Apple's latest three iPhone offerings, the 8, 8 Plus, and X, are all Qi enabled and can charge their batteries at the wireless charging stations that are popping up everywhere from airports to coffee shops. There's even a free app, Aircharge Qi, that lets iPhone users know where their nearest Qi charging station is! The versatility and convenience offered by electromagnetic charging isn't just for the latest iPhones, though. If you have an older iPhone and want to get on the wireless charging bandwagon, there's more than one way to Qi-enable your pre-iPhone 8 device. Choices include wireless charging cases, and a variety of wireless charging receiver cards, stickers, and patches; and remember, if you're going to buy a Qi-enabling accessory for your device, you'll also need a Qi charging pad. Let's get started going over your options to get wireless charging on your older iPhone.

Apple CEO Tim Cook had an exciting announcement at the Worldwide Developers Conference this year; an Amazon Prime Video app would soon be coming to Apple TV. Six months later, it's finally happened; the Amazon Prime Video app is ready to download and use with your Apple TV. This marks the official end of Amazon's refusal to cooperate with Apple in facilitating streaming for Amazon Prime tv shows and movies on Apple TV. Why wouldn't Amazon allow a video app for Amazon Prime customers on Apple TV up until now? Well, Amazon competes with Apple, not just in devices like the Kindle Fire versus the Apple iPad but in selling and streaming media. Up until a few months ago Amazon wouldn't even sell Apple TVs on their platform! But now it appears the ice has not only cracked but melted altogether, and Amazon is streaming favorites like The Man in the High Castle, Vikings, and The Tick for Apple TV at last. So let's take advantage of this truce and learn how to watch Amazon Prime on Apple TV with the official Amazon Prime Video app. 

Without a Home button, how do you go back to Home screen from within an app on the iPhone X? Using gestures. A simple swipe up from the horizontal bar at the bottom will do the trick. iPhone Home screen has been around forever; we’re just accustomed to going back to Home screen by using the Home button. This is one of those things you’ll have to get used to with the iPhone X, but I promise it doesn’t take long for the new method to become intuitive. If you’re having trouble figuring out how to go to Home screen on your iPhone X, here’s how to return to Home screen using your new best friend: gestures.

Do you find it totally creepy when an ad pops up on your iPhone for just exactly the sort of thing you’d like to purchase? Does it seem like your phone has just a little too much inside information about your preferences, and you’d like to establish some boundaries between yourself and the wide world of capitalism? If so, it’s time for you to learn how to limit ad tracking in Apple Apps on your iPhone.

Qi? What is Qi? And how do you even pronounce that? Turns out, Qi (pronounced chee, as in cheese) is a Chinese word and concept that refers to air, life force, and energy flow. It makes total sense to use this term when referring to inductive chargers, which restore life to your iPhone's battery without the use of cables. Let's learn more about magnetic charging with Qi stations and how Qi wireless charging works with the iPhone X, 8 Plus, and 8. We'll discuss Qi charging pads, Qi compatible iPhone cases, and the benefits of using a wireless charger for your Apple devices versus a standard Lightning cable charger. So let's get started talking about Qi, the life source for your iPhone!

The camera roll on my iPhone is jam packed with pictures of my dogs—there's just something about those fuzzy faces that demands to be adored and photographed so that the pictures can be adored as well. Then of course there's the sharing; #instadog #socute #sorryyouguysicantrestrainmyself. I've been known to take dog photos with Instagram, share them to Facebook, then text and private message them to friends and family that really must see the latest iteration of canine cuteness right away. Therefore it is with great delight that I announce the discovery of my new favorite app, BarkCam, the "Instagram for Dogs." 

Switching apps on your old iPhone was an easy gesture—double click on the home button and scroll horizontally between the apps that pop up, which are handily ranked from right to left in the order you used them last. But now you've upgraded to the iPhone X, and the faithful home button is no more. Fear not, fellow iPhone X initiate! There's a learning curve; but once you've mastered a few simple flicks and swipes, you'll be back to multitasking as fast or faster than ever before. Let's go through the easiest and most efficient ways of using your new iPhone X to switch apps. We'll go over using the Home indicator, quickly switching between open apps, accessing the App Switcher, and closing out apps you're finished using. Once you've acclimated to the bezel-less iPhone X, you'll never look back. So without further ado, here's how to switch between apps on your new iPhone X.

The front camera on iPhone X is capable of a lot of incredible things, including improving your selfie game with front-facing Portrait Mode and Portrait Lighting. You're likely familiar with how to take a selfie on iPhone, but Selfie Portrait Mode and Lighting makes taking good selfies super easy. With the Portrait Lighting, you can change the lighting before ever taking a photo. You have various lighting options to choose from, depending on the effect you want and your location. And the background of the photos are blurred for that professional Bokeh look. For iPhone X users, front-facing Portrait Mode and Lighting is essential to learn for taking great selfies. You can use this Portrait Lighting when taking regular photos (not selfies) on iPhone X and iPhone 8, and you can use Portrait Mode on those devices as well as the iPhone 7 Plus. But Selfie Portrait Mode and Lightning is reserved to the iPhone X for now. Here’s how to use Selfie Portrait Mode & Portrait Lighting on iPhone X.

Recipe apps are a dime a dozen. But every now and then, I come across and test out one that really stands out from the crowd. Fit Men Cook is a healthy recipe app with meal plans, shopping lists, and lots of helpful information.The name may declare this an app for men, but lots of women (including myself) use and love the app as well. Whether you’re trying to lose weight without feeling deprived or looking to incorporate more healthy foods into your diet, Fit Men Cook is for casual exercisers and bodybuilders alike. We’ll cover more on what the app does and why we love it below.

The App Store got a huge upgrade with iOS 11. One of the new features is videos! Developers can create little videos that autoplay when you're browsing apps. When you're browsing with WiFi, this probably isn't a problem. But on cellular, you don't want to eat up data just to play a video about an app you're downloading. Of course, if you're not a fan of video autoplay under any circumstance, you can turn it off completely. Here's how to turn off video autoplay in the App Store on iPhone.

Can’t find battery percentage on your new iPhone X? Don’t worry, it’s there. I suppose there just wasn't enough room to keep it in the same spot due to the notch at the top, but Apple didn’t get rid of it altogether. The setting that allows you to turn on show battery percentage isn’t even available on iPhone X, so it’s easy to panic and wonder, “can I view battery percentage on iPhone X or is it gone?” It’s not gone! Worry not, we’ll show you how to see your battery percentage on iPhone X at anytime. It’s simpler than you might even think. Have an iPhone X? Here’s how to view battery percentage.

Notifications center on any iPhone previous to the iPhone X is accessed by simply swiping down from the very top of the screen. But the iPhone X has a notch at the top that creates a distinct top left and top right of the iPhone X. As such, Apple gave each separate side its own function. So where are notifications on the iPhone X? Just a swipe away. Plus, there’s another interesting feature pertaining to notifications on iPhone X that utilizes facial recognition for futuristic privacy. We’ll go over both in our continued journey covering all the new gestures and features of the iPhone X. Here’s how to find the notification center on iPhone X and the hidden iPhone X privacy feature that’ll blown your mind.

It’s not often that I feature a gaming app. For the most part, we understand that a fun game isn't a top priority for many on iPhone. But if you'd be so kind as to indulge me, I have a gaming app to feature that is, by far, my favorite iOS game ever. I have played a lot of iOS games. I succumbed to Candy Crush many years ago when it first was a huge hit; I played Super Mario Run and beat every possible metric to completion last year. I have enjoyed many games, but none of them have been able to hold my attention for as long as Battlejack. This game combines the simplicity of blackjack with the adventure of an RPG (role-playing game), creating an addictive mix of strategy, luck, and powerful creatures. Check out more on what this game does and why I can’t get enough of it below.

The Home button on iPhone served a lot of functions, which means Apple had to figure out a way to make those same functions work without a Home button. You can still easily access Apple Pay for both real-world and in-app purchases with your iPhone. And it’s not that different than before. Here’s how to use Apple Pay on the iPhone X.

Whether you’ve got dozens or hundreds of unread, Spark by Readdle (Free) will help you easily go through them in minutes. The Smart Inbox sorts your emails, helping you keep personal emails and newsletters separate. It also has Smart Notifications, so you’ll only get notifications for the mail you care about. Keep reading to learn more on what Spark by Readdle does and why we love it.

YouTube is the new TV. And children everywhere are watching a lot of it. But the regular YouTube app isn't designed with parental controls in mind, which is why YouTube Kids is a great app for parents and grandparents to download. If you’ve ever hung out with a child, you know sometimes they just need a little distraction to settle down. But you also want to make sure they’re not accidentally (or not so accidentally) wandering into adult territory and watching something they shouldn't be. We’ll cover more on what the YouTube Kids app does and why we love it below.

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