Lifestyle

Not a lot of people know that Apple bundles its services into a monthly subscription called Apple One. There are three options, including Apple One Premier, which includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, and even 2TB of iCloud+ that can be shared with up to five other people. I'll teach you how to get it!

In an eco-conscious effort, Google Maps now includes a convenient fuel-efficient routing option. This allows you to view which route consumes the lowest amount of fuel. What's the downside? You don’t always get the shortest path, as the app prioritizes the fuel-efficient option by default. If you're getting inconvenient routes, we’ll show you how to turn off the Google Maps fuel-efficient routing feature.

The iPhone has a bunch of great native apps that can really help you get your work done. But one of the best, little-known apps that come on your iPhone is the Measure app. The iPhone Measure app, while sometimes imperfect, does a pretty decent job of taking appropriate measurements of spaces. There are a few keys to getting it to work right, but this has helped me out in so many circumstances where I did not have a tape measure ready.

The tech world started off 2024 with a bang at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The convention bustled with life after some atypical years caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the show floor was full of hot tech and innovation of all kinds, we were on the lookout for the best gear and accessories for Apple users in particulart. Smart home products were everywhere, with vacuums and air fryers taking center stage, while wireless charger makers were keen to emphasize their adoption of Qi 2 technology. And it seemed like everyone had their own answer to othe upcoming VisionPro. Here, in no particular order, are our picks for the very best of CES 2024.

Gone are the days when tech and water didn’t mix. Today we have a wide selection of water-resistant and waterproof products that can enhance our poolside days and beach trips. Living on Maui gives me constant opportunities to test the best beach and pool gear against the elements. I’ll share my favorite gear with you that passed the test of tropical island life.

I’d never enjoyed wearing a watch—I didn’t like how it felt on my wrist. However, the idea of a wearable computer intrigued me, so in 2016 I bought an Apple Watch Series 2. I tried it for a few days and ended up reselling it. In 2019, hearing of the health benefits, I bought the Series 5. That watch met the same fate.

My wife and I are most fortunate to own and share 33 acres of rural Iowa forest with birds, trees, plants, grasses, insects, fish, reptiles, small mammals, and deer. Admittedly, staring at my iPhone when walking in our woods is not a good look. Yet, worlds have opened thanks to apps that let me name trees, identify birds, diagnose plant health, and plot our newly created paths.

Whether you’re an early riser or prefer to sleep in, everyone wants to begin the day on a good note. In this world of modern technology, it’s easy to start scrolling social media or checking work emails the minute you open your eyes. This kind of routine doesn’t give your sleepy brain or body any time to adjust and find a moment of peace before you’re thrown back into the thick of it. That’s why I’ve gathered a list of the best apps to open before you put yourself out into the world that will bring a little bit of positivity, learning, good habit-building, and gratitude into your fast-paced life.

Around Thanksgiving, 1985, not knowing anything about printing, publishing, or running a business, my late wife Rita and I launched our company and first print publication: a 32-page newsletter about making the most of the Hewlett Packard 110 Portable PC. For 38 years, we’ve published print issues helping tech enthusiasts—first of HP, then Microsoft, and finally of Apple products—238 issues in all. With the summer 2023 issue of iPhone Life, the print streak ends.