By Amy Spitzfaden Both
Before getting an Apple Watch, I didn’t think I’d use it for much. Yes, we have some die-hard Apple Watch enthusiasts here at iPhone Life, but I couldn’t imagine using it as more than a glorified step tracker. Some of the stats it can record sounded cool, but it never seemed like something I needed, much less something that would make me a better person.
By Cullen Thomas
Apple has announced its long-awaited mixed reality headset at this year's World Wide Developers Conference. The headset, which is essentially a lightweight and specialized Mac that you strap to your face, represents Apple’s entry into the world of virtual and augmented reality, which, despite much potential, has remained a niche market dominated by gamers. Apple hopes to bring that world mainstream the same way that they made personal computers mainstream with the Mac, and smartphones with the introduction of the iPhone. Whether they will succeed remains to be seen, since the device will not reach audiences until 2024, and even then comes at a steep retail price of $3,499 that puts it out of reach of most. Nevertheless, the Vision Pro represents Apple’s first new product type since the launch of the Apple Watch in 2015, and many expect it could, like the iPhone and the Mac, change the world.
By August Garry
These days, technology develops almost too quickly to keep track of. Every year, Apple releases a new iPhone that can do things that even a few years ago would have sounded straight out of a science fiction novel (and sometimes more in a Blade Runner than an Avatar way). Mark Zuckerberg wants us all to live in the metaverse (can’t he just get a Second Life account?); Elon Musk wants to evacuate the ultra-rich to Mars. We’ve become so used to walking around with supercomputers in our pockets that it can be easy to forget just how futuristic today’s tech would seem from the vantage point of even the early 2000s, let alone the middle part of the 20th century, when computers emerged in our cultural consciousness.
By Rhett Intriago
AirPods spatial audio provides a theater-like sound experience when listening to music or watching movies on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. With the release of iOS 16 and a pair of third-generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max, you can create a personalized spatial audio experience.
By August Garry
We’ve all had it happen: you get a little too comfortable with autocorrect, and all of a sudden you’ve sent a horrifying text to your mother-in-law when all you wanted to do was ask if she wanted to come over for dinner at six. And then there are the times when the real world decides to assert its dominance over our digital fantasy world. How many of us have fished our iPhones out from bodies of water and hopefully dumped them into bags of rice?
By Ashleigh Page
Coming up with New Year's Resolutions and sticking to them is not always easy. If you're not sure where to start with your resolution for this year or you're looking for ways to stay on track, there are plenty of apps to help you out.
By Ashleigh Page
If you’re firmly attached to the idea of owning a wall calendar, you’re not alone! Unlike many print products, sales of paper calendars are on the increase, alongside an explosion in the digital calendar app market. Instead of choosing between paper or digital, many people opt for both, allowing for the sentimentality of a wall calendar and the convenience of apps. In my quest to find the ultimate digital calendars and planners, I was pleasantly surprised by the range of layouts, sharing, and customization options offered by the different apps. Many of my top picks below combine functional interfaces with fun design elements, making them both easy to use and aesthetically appealing. There’s truly an app for everyone, from the fun and whimsical to the oh-so sleek and professional.
By Rhett Intriago
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.
By Rhett Intriago
Fast charging is a feature that Apple introduced with the iPhone 8. It allows you to recharge your device faster than ever before. Fast charging requires a specific power adapter, but what if you already have a MacBook Pro charger? In this article, we’ll explore which chargers are compatible with your iPhone and iPad and what you can use to fast charge your phone.
By Rhett Intriago
You may have noticed that when you put your Apple Watch on its charger, it displays a large digital clock. This is nightstand mode, and it’s meant to make it easy for you to check the time in the middle of the night.
By Leanne Hays
I spent most of my childhood in California and, despite 14 years of practice, have never quite adapted to the horror that is Midwestern winters. Fall is my very favorite time of year, yet as it progresses, the dread increases... Winter is coming.
By Olena Kagui
Your Apple Watch calorie counter is a powerful fitness tool if you know how to use it right. Your Apple Watch comes with preset Stand and Exercise goals, but the Move goal needs to be set up based on individual needs. Although your watch may suggest changing your Apple Watch Move goal automatically, you can also adjust it manually.
By August Garry
If you have AirTags, Apple’s new(ish) tracking device, you probably already know all about the standard ways you can use them: to keep track of your keys, your bag, your bike, or even the ever-elusive remote. But what else can you do with AirTags? Of course, you don’t have to do anything else with them. They exist to keep you from losing your valuable possessions, but you can do some fun and unexpected things with your AirTags, too. Maybe you bought a four-pack, but only have three things you need to keep track of. It would be a shame to let that extra AirTag go to waste. Here are six fun and (mostly) functional ways you can use that extra AirTag.
By Amy Spitzfaden Both
If you're on a vacation or attending an exciting event, you might want to know how to multiple photos on your Instagram story. Instagram stories disappear after twenty-four hours, so they can be useful for "photo dumps", where you want to share moment-by-moment accounts of whatever you're doing, but don't want to commit it permanently to your page. There are three options for adding many photos to your Instagram story, so let's learn them all. Here's how to post multiple pictures to one Instagram story.
By Amy Spitzfaden Both
SharePlay is a feature introduced in iOS 15.0.1 that allows users to share media, games, and more over FaceTime. However, not every app offers SharePlay capabilities, and it can be hard to know which apps are best optimized for this new feature. We've put together a list of the nine best apps for SharePlay to help get you going with this fun new option.
Apple's fall 2021 event, called "California Streaming," opened with a video montage that seemed designed to sell the audience on how beautiful California is. The montage then concluded with Tim Cook stepping onto a stage at Apple Park in Cupertino. Perhaps this is Tim Cook's way of trying to persuade remote Apple employees reluctant to give up working from home that it's time to return to the office? From there, Cook and the Apple team introduced a host of new products including the iPhone 13 lineup consisting of four new models, a ninth-generation iPad and sixth-generation iPad mini, and the Apple Watch Series 7 (but no Apple Watch SE update). Notably, no new AirPods were announced. While some of the new iPhone camera features are pretty exciting (Cinematic Mode, anyone?), there were no big surprises during the event. But even so, shiny new iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches are always exciting. Here's everything you should know about Apple's latest devices.
By August Garry
The Apple Event California Streaming came and went on September 14 without any word on new MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs, AirPods 3, or AirPods Pro 2. Might these devices and more be coming in an October or November Apple Event? We'll have to wait and see. While we wait, let's dive into rumors about what we can expect from these new devices, whenever they arrive.
By Cullen Thomas
Apple announced two updated iPads at its September 14 event in 2021. The two iPads are the iPad (9th generation) and a redesigned iPad mini (6th generation); we'll go over the features and pricing of both iPads, which seem optimized for video use, including features like increased brightness, better color with TrueTone, and also Center Stage, which allows the cameras to track your movement while you record a TikTok or a chat in a FaceTime Call. Let's get started.
By Hallei Halter
Typical vintage filters for photos slap on a yellow tint and call it a day. VSCO, a photography app that doubles as a photo editor, imitates analog camera settings to make your images look like natural film photos. The app also offers VSCO X, a yearly subscription that bulks up the app to include over 100 filters and tools to edit your photos to look like professional pieces.
