By August Garry
As much as we love technology, we have always been suspicious of it. You only need to look to our horror stories to understand that: from 2001: A Space Odyssey to The Ring to M3GAN, we are captivated by the idea of what happens when technology turns on us. Even Frankenstein, considered by many the first true science-fiction story, is about the dangers inherent in toying with technology whose consequences we can’t fully understand.
By Hal Goldstein
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.
By August Garry
I frequently call my Apple devices lifesavers. I would miss 99 percent of my appointments without the help of my iPhone alarms, but it may be a bit of an exaggeration to say I would die without my HomePod. There was no hyperbole needed for many of you who wrote in with stories of when your Apple devices saved the day! Once again, you came through with some amazing tales of your iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirTags coming to your rescue. I will reproduce several of them here, edited for space and clarity.
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 Amy Spitzfaden Both
Before my daughter was born, I was convinced I wouldn’t let her have access to any screens before the age of five, and after that I’d impose strict limits on her digital access. I shook my head at parents who bought tablet devices for their preschoolers.
By Amy Spitzfaden Both
When you're looking for a new iPad, there's a lot to consider. An iPad is a significant investment, so you want to make sure you get one that best fits your needs, whether that's budget or performance requirements. Let's look at the different iPad options and see which is right for you.
By August Garry
If you have an iPad that gets a lot of use, you may be wondering if it's worth it to invest in an Apple Pencil to go along with it. Maybe you're an artist wondering if the Apple Pencil can help you get into digital art on your iPad, or maybe you're more a note-taker who wants the freedom of longhand writing without having to lug around a bunch of notebooks. In this article, we'll go over who the Apple Pencil will be good for and who might want to take a pass.
By Leanne Hays
Apple’s 2021 MacBook Pro is loaded with updates and improvements that make it “the world’s best pro notebook,” as Apple executive Greg Joswiak proclaimed upon its release. But these high-end features come with a hefty price tag. Does the 2021 MacBook Pro warrant the price? Is it a better idea to wait for the refreshed MacBook Air that’s sure to arrive in a year or less?
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 Leanne Hays
Apple revealed the 2021 MacBook Pro at its October event, and it's loaded with updates and improvements that make it "the world's best pro notebook," according to Greg Joswiak, Apple's Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing. But these high-end features come with a hefty price tag. Does the 2021 MacBook Pro warrant the price? Or is it a better idea to wait for the refreshed MacBook Air that's sure to arrive in a year or less?
By August Garry
Many of us have had a conversation with a friend, only to be scrolling on our phones later and come across an ad for the very thing we thought we’d been discussing in private. My colleague, Erin MacPherson, told me this story: “My mom was talking to me about wanting a side-by-side double trash can for under her breakfast bar, and a few days later, I was seeing Amazon ads for exactly those. It was... freaky. Up until then, I had pretty much assumed that I’d forgotten about Googling something or looking it up on Amazon, but I was sure I hadn’t with that one.” Stories like this raise the question—is your iPhone spying on you?
By August Garry
Are you stuck wondering whether you should get a Kindle or iPad for reading? The e-reader vs. tablet debates have been raging for years and everyone has an opinion. In this article, we'll go over the pros and cons of Kindle and iPad to help you find the e-reading device that's right for you.
By Donna Schill
In the 167th episode, David and Donna recap everything Apple announced at its annual September event. Get their take on the iPhone 13's video features, sleeker Apple Watch Series 7, and upgraded iPad Mini. Discover what we got, what we're still waiting for, and what you should definitely buy!
By Briana Dicks
Do you remember when the first smartphone came out? It was only a little more than a decade ago. A couple years later, my husband told me he wanted to upgrade from his old-school flip phone to an iPhone 4. Let me tell you, I was not on board. I remember complaining that he would be on it all the time—just like all our friends who had already converted. Fast forward to today, and I myself am the proud user of an iPhone X and am sad to say that my behaviors are probably worse than those of my friends all those years ago. It took me a while to realize I had a problem.
By Ashleigh Page
Following the WWDC 2021 event, Apple's Beta software for iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS Monterey, tvOS 15 and watchOS 8 are scheduled for a public beta release sometime in July. If you enjoy being an early adopter and testing the newest technology, you might be interested in enrolling in the Apple Beta software program and becoming a beta tester. Being a beta tester can be an exciting and rewarding experience, however, all bets are off when dealing with pre-released software. In the article below, we'll discuss the Apple Beta Software Program in further detail, and also cover the pros and cons of enrolling in the program.
By August Garry
Have you ever held your iPhone 12 Pro Max in your hands and wondered, like David Byrne, “How did we get here?” It may seem like we’ve always had our smartphones in our lives, but in reality, it was just 14 short years ago when the first iPhone came out. Imagine, the year 2007: no one owned an iPhone and the term “selfie” wasn’t even a twinkle in a future Instagrammer’s eye. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and learn what made the first iPhone the household name it is today.
By Conner Carey
Yesterday, Instagram introduced a new icon and app design meant to focus on content. My first thought was, “dear god why?” While the new logo is full of pretty rainbow gradient, it barely looks like a camera at this point and completely abandons the nostalgic polaroid look of the original. Alas, all good things must come to an end, but we can complain about it anyway.
Want to know what to expect from this year’s next iOS update for the iPhone? Here’s everything we know about iOS 15 so far, including expected release dates, device compatibility, and new iOS features, as well as what our team and readers are wishing for. Let's take a look at the predictions for the future iOS 15 update!
Way back in 1992, DC Comics shocked the world by killing off iconic superhero Superman in an all-out battle against the super villain Doomsday. While people mourned the loss of the Man of Steel, he later would return, reincarnated, even mightier than ever. This story came to my mind earlier this year in April, when Apple declared dead the original 4-inch iPhone SE and announced its rebirth in a form with a significantly bigger screen size than before. While many rejoiced at the 2020 release of the second-generation iPhone SE, it was a doomsday of sorts for fans who prefer small Apple smartphones.
In every issue of iPhone Life magazine, we feature the iPhone Home screens of people from different walks of life, so our readers can see how they use iPhone apps to meet a variety of needs. In our Summer 2020 issue, we featured multimedia artist Matt Wyatt from Rochester, New Hampshire. Matt's work includes abstract expressionism, collage, and photography. In 2011, he cofounded the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts and has served as a member of Rochester’s Commission for Arts & Culture since 2013.
