iPhone Life - Best Apps, Top Tips, Great Gear
OWC's USBC Travel Dock is Your Solution for Working Remotely
(Sponsored Post) By Tamlin Day on Mon, 12/09/2019
Being able to stay plugged into work when you're traveling or from home is a high priority for today's workforce, but running all the devices you need to keep working can be a pain. On top of that, multimedia presentations can be a chore if you don't have a way to connect multiple devices at once. Luckily, OWC has an all-in-one solution for your connectivity needs.
Review: LucidSound Wireless Gaming Headset Does Double Duty for iPhone Users
By Todd Bernhard
If you're not all-in on Apple Arcade, and still use a dedicated gaming console like the Xbox One, you might want a gaming headset that can support chat via a removable boom microphone. But before you spend nearly $200 (as much as or more than the console) you should get one that also works with your iPhone. LucidSound sent me a review unit of their LS35X Rose Gold Wireless Gaming Headset ($149.99) to try and Apple users who like to game will find it is a perfect fit, especially if they use Rose Gold Apple gear.
Review: Defense Vertical Wireless Chargers from X-Doria
By Todd Bernhard
I have a lot of Apple gear (iPhones, AirPods, Apple Watches) but limited space, so I was glad when X-Doria sent its Defense Vertical Wireless Charger (starting at $39.99) to try. It is sold in two versions, a compact vertically-oriented stand for just a Qi-enabled smartphone or a wider version with an extra pad for AirPods (or even a second iPhone). That version also has an extra USB port so you could add your own cable to charge an Apple Watch, etc.
How to Mirror an iPhone to a TV
By iPhone Life Team
When you want to show others your videos and photos on your iPhone or iPad, or you’re watching a streaming service (such as Apple’s new TV+) on a handheld device, often the small screen just won’t do. That's when you need to mirror your iPhone to your TV Fortunately, there are several easy ways to connect an iPhone or iPad to the biggest screen in your home.
How to Tag a Contact in Reminders on Your iPhone (New for iOS 13)
By Leanne Hays
If you use Apple's Reminders app to keep on top of your chores, events, and tasks, you'll enjoy a convenient new feature just added with iOS 13. The Reminders app now allows users to tag a contact; when you use the Messages app to text your tagged contact, a reminder notification will pop up on your iPhone. Let's get started learning how to use this new Reminders feature now.
Review: Smart String Lights Get Smarter for 2019 Season
By Todd Bernhard
One of the neat things about writing product reviews for iPhone Life for over a decade is getting to see enhanced versions of products I've reviewed in the past. Case in point, Twinkly sent a review unit of its updated Smart LED String Lights (starting at $148.95). As with the previous generation, they are intelligent holiday lights that can be programmed to display solid colors or patterns.
How to Rename Your AirPods on Your iPhone
By iPhone Life Team
Next, enter your new name and then tap Done on the keyboard to complete the change.The first time you set up your AirPods, you’ll notice that Apple assigns them a default name based on the device with which you’re pairing them. While this is fine to get you started, chances are you’ll soon want to rename them. There are so many wireless headphones users who own Apple AirPods that, sooner or later, it’s likely you’ll be sharing a Wi-Fi network with another owner. When that happens, life will be a little easier if you’ve given your AirPods a name of their own. Thankfully, while learning how to connect AirPods to your Apple device may seem a bit tricky at first, renaming them is in fact pretty simple.
Review: Supwatch Luxury Leather Apple Watch Band
By Mike Riley
Before the Apple Watch was released, I rarely considered watch bands to carry much interest. Perhaps at the time of purchase, the watch band style made the difference between one watch or another. But when the Apple Watch was released, I was perfectly content with bland black band that strapped the watch to my wrist. But as the variety of band styles blossomed and the ease of swapping bands on the watch became frictionless, my curiosity piqued. So I made a concerted effort to seek out the bands I found best aligned with my fashion sense and personality. Fortunately that search ended rather quickly and successfully once the website Supwatch.com came to my attention.
The Best Home & Interior Design Apps for Your Construction & Renovation Projects
By Mike Riley
Taking on a home project can be a challenging and rewarding experience. If you have tackled this type of task before, it can be downright daunting. Fortunately, a variety of applications are available to help alleviate anxiety and move your renovation toward a fun and satisfying conclusion. The tools and materials you’ll need will depend on the scope of your endeavor. Finding the right app for the job is equivalent to finding the right tool in the physical world; there are so many that identifying the right one can be a challenge. Fortunately, I’ve tested a diversity of apps and will share a handful here that can help make your next home-improvement effort a success.
How to Track Your Period with Cycle Tracking in the iPhone Health App
By Leanne Hays
Apple's new operating system, iOS 13, has a helpful new feature in the Health App; Cycle Tracking. This period tracker is useful for not only logging your menstrual cycle, but also symptoms associated with it, such as spotting, basal body temperature, fertility tracking, and calculating when your next period will start. Let's get started learning how to set up Cycle Tracking on your iPhone.
How to Customize Safari Settings for Individual Websites
By Tamlin Day
Setting a website to always open in your preferred mode, such as Desktop or Reader View, makes it easier to browse your favorite websites from the iPhone. With Safari's custom controls, you can also allow or disable your microphone, camera, and location sharing for individual websites. Here's how to customize your Safari experience on the iPhone.
Unfinished Business: iPadOS Leaves the Tablet's Future Unclear
By Donna Cleveland
In the 125th episode, members of the iPhone Life team discuss the triumphs and failures of iPadOS. While multitasking, browser support, and file management have improved, the iPad software remains unintuitive and a weak replacement for the laptop.
How to Save a Text Conversation on Your Mac
By Cullen Thomas
Text message conversations may contain evidence of important memories, and if you’re like me, you probably want to download your iMessages, save your messages, print your messages, or do something, anything, to make those exchanges more secure and accessible. One useful trick to save those interactions is to use the Messages Mac application to download your message history as a PDF file. This will let you keep that conversation on your computer and share it as you like, whether it was a conversation with a friend who isn't around anymore, or with a landlord and you need a record. Read on to find out how to turn an Messages conversation into a document you can save on your computer, or print later.
How to Take Full-Page Screenshots on Your iPhone (New for iOS 13)
By Leanne Hays
Among the helpful features Apple introduced with iOS 13 is the ability to take full-page, or scrolling, screenshots in Safari. This means that, rather than capturing only the section of the web page that's visible on your iPhone display, you'll now be able to screen capture the entire page. Let's get started learning how to use this useful new screenshot capability!
Apple or Google Photos? Which App Is Best for Cost, Quality & Editing
By Kenneth Boshell
Ever lost a precious memory because you forgot to back it up? With these two major photo management solutions, Apple Photos and Google Photos, those concerns should be a thing of the past. But which one should you pick? In this article, I'll go in depth to find out. I'll compare cost, file formats, upload quality, and a number of other factors in order to help you make an informed decision.
How to Swipe to Text on the iPad with the Floating Keyboard
By Cullen Thomas
The Swipe Keyboard on the iPhone, often called Swipe Text, Swype Keyboard, Slide to Type, or sometimes QuickPath, is available on the iPad as of iPadOS 13. Using the iPad’s floating keyboard, you can drag your finger from one letter to the next without lifting it, spelling out whole words in one quick motion. There’s no need for a keyboard app. To get Slide to Type working on your iPad, you’ll need to use the floating keyboard, and learn how to switch between the floating keyboard and the regular keyboard. Read on for quick instructions on how to use QuickPath and the floating keyboard on your iPad.
Review: AirTrio & AirQuad Wireless Charging Dock
By Todd Bernhard
I am always on the lookout for the ideal way to charge all of my gear, which is typically made by Apple. The folks at Pitaka may have the answer. Their upcoming AirTrio and AirQuad (starting at $119) is currently a bargain on Kickstarter; and while crowdfunded projects don't always come to fruition, Pitaka is an established manufacturer and I've reviewed its other items before. The company sent me an AirQuad to review, so I can confirm that it's real. And it's really nice.